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Business backlash halts Bertrand overlay district

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House votes to stop war with Iran Approval of resolution a rebuke of Trump

BY LISA MASCARO

AP congressional correspondent

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

An overlay district for a stretch of Bertrand Drive is on hold after business owners voiced concerns.

City rethinks strict design rules

BY STEPHEN MARCANTEL

snapshot of Boulet’s marquee plan for Johnston Street. But business owners say they were never told about proMayor-President Monique Boulet posed building design requirements has tabled an overlay district that that could impact property values and would have set strict design standards hinder renovations.

Boulet said the administration inalong a half-mile stretch of Bertrand Drive after business owners voiced tended to pursue restrictions on land concerns. uses and signage, but the project also The half-mile of roadway is part of a automatically triggered the city’s revitalization project that aims to be a broader Type A development stan-

Staff writer

dards under the Lafayette Development Code, which include building design and site requirements.

She said the administration plans to revisit those standards and how they apply to revitalization projects and existing commercial corridors.

A Lafayette Consolidated Government spokesperson confirmed Tuesday that plans for the overlay district were paused. A briefing on the district was scheduled at the city’s Zoning Commission on June 15 but has since

ä See BERTRAND, page 4A

WASHINGTON — The House for the first time Wednesday approved a war powers resolution that would halt the U.S. military action against Iran, defying “It is time for President Donald Trump as a handful of Republithe president cans joined with Demoto do the right crats to end the threething. The month-long conflict that people are tired has reordered politics at of suffering home and abroad.

House Speaker Mike because of his Johnson had tried to war of choice prevent an outcome that — suffering at would show the mountthe gas pump, ing opposition to the suffering at the war, abruptly shutting down floor action two supermarkets.” weeks ago when the resREP. GREGORy olution was on the verge of approval. But displea- MEEKS, D-New york sure has only grown as the conflict drags on and as Trump struggles to negotiate a plan for peace.

“Enough is enough,” said Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who led the effort.

“It is time for the president to do the right thing,” he said. “The people are tired of suffering because of his war of choice — suffering at the gas pump, suffering at the super-

ä See HOUSE, page 4A

La. mostly ends inspection stickers N.O., BR areas retain rules for safety checks

BY ALYSE PFEIL Staff writer

Drivers across most of Louisiana will no longer need a vehicle inspection sticker — though many in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas will still have to comply with other inspection rules in those places.

“The inspection sticker is now EXPIRED in Louisiana!” Gov. Jeff Landry wrote in a social media

WEATHER HIGH 80 LOW 70 PAGE 6A

post after a Tuesday bill-signing ceremony, calling it “costly and burdensome.”

Most drivers will no longer need to get a basic safety check every year or two.

Instead, they’ll have to get a new Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program sticker, which will have a QR code that lists the vehicle identification number when scanned.

Drivers will get the new QR code sticker when registering a vehicle.

It will have an annual cost of $6 that will be collected by the Office of Motor Vehicles at the time of registration and again every time

the registration is renewed, which could be at one-, two- or four-year intervals. For example, someone who renews a registration every two years will pay $12.

The state’s new QR code sticker listing the VIN will be rolled out beginning Jan. 1.

Before that date, drivers do not need to visit the OMV to get the QR code sticker. Instead, they will simply get the new sticker when their registration is up for renewal in the coming months or years.

Drivers in some major metro ar-

STAFF FILE PHOTO By BRETT DUKE

Vehicle inspection stickers will no longer be required for many vehicles in ä See STICKERS, page 4A Louisiana.

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Pentagon hires convicted rioter to military post

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

Ford issues recalls for several models

Ford is recalling almost 420,000 vehicles because of a seat belt issue that may result in an injury if a crash occurs.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report Tuesday that the recall includes certain Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles with model years 2018 through 2022.

The issue involves seat belts that may lock inadvertently, not allowing them to retract or extend.

Vehicle owners will receive a notification in the mail about the recall. They can take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have both front seat belt retractors inspected and to replace retractors involved in the recall for free.

Ford also issued a do-notdrive warning for thousands of Bronco Sport and Maverick due to problems with the vehicles’ suspension systems.

The NHTSA said that the front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at an assembly plant, and the control arm could disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.

Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, for free.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 4367332 or the NHTSA at (888) 327-4236 for more information about the recalls.

Child dies after inflatable castle tossed into air MONTREAL — A 3-year-old girl died from injuries she sustained when strong winds tossed an inflatable castle into the air during a party at a Montreal park last weekend.

Eleven people were injured with six of them sent to hospital when a bouncy castle and a tent were tossed by high winds on May 31 at Parc Ouellet in LaSalle, a borough in southwest Montreal, emergency medical services said.

The government agency Environment Canada said wind speeds were up to 31 miles per hour on Sunday afternoon during a party held by a church.

Coroner Martine Lachance has been assigned to investigate the causes and circumstances surrounding the death.

Cathy Denis, owner of an inflatable-structure rental company in Quebec, said she doesn’t install or operate bouncy castles or similar inflatables when forecasts call for wind speeds exceeding 24 miles per hour.

She said that limit is important because inflatables present a large surface area and sudden gusts can move the structures, even when they are properly installed.

Germany seizes tons of cocaine, arrests suspects BERLIN — German authorities said Wednesday they have seized more than 8 metric tons of cocaine from a container that was supposed to be carrying cacao beans, and two suspects were later arrested in Spain.

German customs investigators put the street value of the cocaine seized in the North Sea port of Wilhelmshaven at about $582 million.

The drugs were seized on Feb. 9. The arrests were made in El Ejido, in the Spanish province of Almería, on May 14.

The container had arrived from West Africa and was destined for Spain, investigators said in a statement. Instead of cacao beans, officials found more than 400 packets wrapped in black foil, each containing about 20 blocks of compressed cocaine.

The shipment was destroyed in Germany before the container was sent on its way to Barcelona. Investigators identified two suspected organizers of the shipment and arrested them during a handover of the container.

One of them, the manager of an import company, has been linked to a previous cocaine shipment by Spanish customs, the statement said. The pair could face prison sentences in Spain if tried and convicted.

Man was freshman ence room, carried a metal through the Capitol and at Citadel when he pole took photos before leaving the building, the records say. joined attack “Because of his training,

BY KONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By MOHAMMED ZAATARI

Rescue workers use an excavator on Tuesday as they search for victims under the rubble of a building that was hit Monday in an Israeli airstrike in Tyre, Lebanon.

Trump admits calling Israeli PM ‘crazy’ Israel, Lebanon agree to renew fragile ceasefire

BY KAREEM CHEHAYEB, MATTHEW LEE, JOSH BOAK and SARAH EL DEEB Associated Press

BEIRUT — President Donald Trump acknowledged criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “crazy” in a phone call that involved expletives, saying he was “a little bit perturbed” that Israel’s fighting with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon was holding back peace talks with Iran.

But even as the U.S. president conceded the tensions in an interview released Wednesday, he insisted that his relationship with Netanyahu was solid and that they connected, in part, because they are both “wartime” leaders.

“We’ve worked very well together. I like Bibi a lot. And I work very well with him,” Trump told The New York Post’s “Pod Force One.” In an interview on the American business-news channel CNBC, Netanyahu responded that he and Trump sometimes have “tactical disagreements” but have “common goals” and “agree on the main things.”

“He respects me. I respect him. We always find a way to work out our differences,” the prime minister said.

The president’s comments about the Monday call offered a sign of the growing pressure he faces to resolve the Iran war as higher energy prices and economic uncertainty threaten Republican prospects in the midterm elections and hamper global commerce.

Talks have dragged on for weeks and have been strained by Israel’s broadening war with the Iranian-backed militia group in Lebanon. The conflicts have become increasingly intertwined as Iran insists that any potential truce in the war there must also quell the fighting in Lebanon.

Israel, Lebanon renew ceasefire Israel and Lebanon agreed Wednesday to renew their fragile ceasefire and create a number of “pilot” security zones inside Lebanon from which Hezbollah militants would be banned.

In a joint statement released after a fourth round of U.S.-mediated talks at the State Department, the two sides said

the ceasefire “is contingent on a complete cessation of Hezbollah fire and the evacuation of all Hezbollah operatives” from areas south of the Litani River. It was not immediately clear how the security zones would be established but the agreement calls for the Lebanese army to take full control of those areas.

“These steps will enable progress towards a comprehensive peace and security agreement,” the statement said.

“All countries reaffirmed that the future of the relationship between Israel and Lebanon must be decided by the two sovereign governments. They rejected any attempt, by any state or non-state actor, to hold Lebanon’s future hostage.”

The latter is a reference to Iran, which supports Hezbollah and has insisted that Israeli attacks on Lebanon be halted as part of a tentative agreement with the U.S. to end the conflict with Iran.

Hezbollah is not part of the Israel-Lebanon talks, which have been held at the ambassadorial level in Washington since the beginning of last month.

“All parties condemned Iran’s attacks on countries in the region, and ongoing activities that undermine stability throughout the Middle East, whether through support for proxies and all other acts of aggression,” the statement said.

A new round of discussions will be held during the week of June 22 with an eye toward “reaching a comprehensive agreement.”

Military warning rattles coastal city

Israeli strikes over southern Lebanon continued, especially in and around the battered cities of Tyre and Nabatiyeh. Two overnight strikes near Tyre, a coastal city, killed four Syrians and two Palestinians.

Israel warned the Christian neighborhoods in Tyre that Hezbollah members were among them. Many Lebanese Shiite Muslims fled to those areas in recent days because they were spared from the aerial bombardment along the Mediterranean coast.

After the warning, the Lebanese army deployed to the Christian district of Tyre in an effort to prevent Israeli attacks there and to show that Hezbollah has no armed presence in the area.

600 firefighters battle fire at the U.S.-Mexico border KAREN KUCHER

The San Diego Union-Tribune (TNS) SAN DIEGO — Six hundred firefighters, aided by helicopters and air tankers, were battling a stubborn brush fire along the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday that so far has charred more than 2,600 acres of vegetation on both sides of the border.

The blaze, which sparked Monday afternoon in Mexico before crossing into the U.S., south of Dulzura, was reported to be 5% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire officials.

Aerial mapping of the burn area estimated total acreage at 2,617 acres early Wednesday. Officials said 1,625 acres were in the U.S. and 992 acres were in Mexico.

One night-flying helicopter worked up until midnight making water drops on the fire, and officials ordered two air tankers and four helicopters to make water and fire retardant drops Wednesday, said Cal Fire Capt. Oscar Sotelo. He said the fire was burning east and was expected to grow after the marine layer burned off.

“The fire did go down in intensity, and they are expecting the intensity to pick

up during the day,” Sotelo said.

Although no structures were immediately threatened, the fire is about a mile from Tecate Peak, where radio communications equipment is housed, and a mile from a high-voltage power line that feeds San Diego. Sotelo described the area as being “a pretty rural, inaccessible area.”

Evacuation warnings were issued around 5 p.m. Tuesday for businesses and homes north of Conchera via Road at Cochera via Drive, south of state Route 94, east of Little Tecate Road at SR-94 and west of U.S. Border Patrol Road at SR-94. The Red Cross opened an overnight shelter at the Spring Valley Community Center where residents and their pets were welcomed.

According to Baja California Civil Protection officials, the fire began shortly after 2:15 p.m. Monday near Rancho Las Uvas and the border fence, between Tijuana and Tecate.

Mexican officials on Tuesday had said the fire charred more than 520 acres south of the border and reported it mostly under control there. Sotelo said Cal Fire was told Mexican officials are moving their resources to fight the fire on the east side.

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has given a man convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol a job in the Pentagon’s policy office, according to officials and internal records.

“Mr. Elias Irizarry is a qualified, patriotic young professional, and we are proud to have him as a political appointee,” acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez said in a social media post this week.

Irizarry, whose appointment was first reported

by The Washington Post, was convicted in 2023 of a misdemeanor trespassing charge after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol.

He showed contrition when he was sentenced to two weeks behind bars in 2023, court documents show.

Internal Pentagon records described to The Associated Press show that Irizarry has been assigned to the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, which is tasked with providing national security advice and support on military strategy and planning to the defense secretary.

It was not clear from Valdez’s statement how long Irizarry had been in the post, and the Pentagon declined to provide more information.

Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said on social media: “This administration thinks a convicted Jan. 6 rioter should be doing that kind of work?????”

Irizarry was a 19-yearold freshman at the Citadel military college in South Carolina and a Civilian Air Patrol cadet when he joined the attack on the Capitol, court documents show. He climbed through a broken window, entered a confer-

Irizarry was undoubtedly aware of the safety threat posed by a mass of angry rioters to the Congressional members and staff inside the building,” prosecutors said in a court filing.

Irizarry pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor trespassing charge in October 2022. In March 2023, U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan sentenced Irizarry to 14 days behind bars.

Before learning his sentence, Irizarry told the judge that he brought “great shame upon myself, my family and even my country,” according to a transcript.

“The idea of Americans being willing to fight other Americans and tear down the very institutions that millions of other Americans sacrificed and built and protect is horrible. It is something I have to live with being a part of,” he said.

Irizarry is not the only convicted participant of the Jan. 6 riot to find a job within the Trump administration.

Jared Wise, a former FBI agent charged with joining the crowd, was hired at the Justice Department last year to serve as an adviser to the department’s pardon attorney.

Wise was on trial in Washington when Trump returned to the White House in January and immediately pardoned, commuted prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of cases for all of the nearly 1,600 people charged in the attack. The case against Wise was dismissed before the jury reached a verdict.

He announced on social media in April that he had resigned from the department, saying: “I returned to Washington to fully expose the abuses by the FBI and DOJ against J6 defendants, but it became clear that this will only happen from outside of government. So I left and will do so.”

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DOE backing away from addressing civil rights

Efforts to address inequities are cast as discriminatory

BY ANNIE MA

AP education writer WASHINGTON — For generations, the federal government enforced civil rights laws with an eye toward remedying historic, systemic discrimination against Black people and other people of color. The Department of Justice pressed schools to desegregate. The Department of Education worked to promote equal opportunity and held schools accountable for racial bias.

But under the Trump administration, efforts to address deeprooted inequities for students of color are being cast as discriminatory against White students. Programs that have long withstood legal scrutiny are now quick to be deemed “illegal DEI” — diversity, equity and inclusion — by the White House. Schools that do not comply have faced threats to their funding, and in some cases, lost federal grants.

Civil rights lawyers describe the Republican administration’s actions as a complete inversion of legal history.

“It’s literally flipping the purpose of civil rights law on its head, not just harming Black students and students of color, but entire school communities,” said Michael Pillera, director of the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “It’s unmoored from the actual history of our country and untethered to the reality of life in this country.”

The administration has opened investigations or joined litigation over a wide range of efforts to address racial inequality. President Donald Trump’s Justice Department is investigating programs to increase the number of teachers of color in Rhode Island and Iowa. Grants to districts to train teachers or recruit school mental health workers have been discontinued for mentions of diversity in recruitment.

In a statement, the Education Department said programs receiving federal money must follow the law, which prohibits discrimina-

tion based on race.

“Serving student needs and following the law are not irreconcilable mandates. Advocates and educators have no reason to stress if they abide by the law,” said Amelia Joy, a department spokesperson.

The administration investigated Chicago Public Schools and withheld more than $20 million when the district refused to end its Black Student Success Program, which aims to increase access to advanced coursework for Black students and reduce overly harsh discipline.

Complaints find new traction A similar effort to close racial achievement gaps in Los Angeles is under the same pressure.

The Los Angeles Unified School District created the Black Student Achievement Plan after an outpouring of student activism following the 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It supports schools with extra teachers, counselors and curriculum in Black history.

Initially, the district chose schools partially based on the number of Black students enrolled. In 2023, Defending Education, a Virginia-based conservative group, filed a complaint to the Education Department, alleging discrimination against non-Black students.

The district said it would no longer consider Black enrollment and instead focus solely on metrics such as high absenteeism and low test scores, emphasizing that all students could take part.

After the changes, the Education Department in 2024 said it saw no evidence of a violation. But when Defending Education filed its complaint again this year, the department’s Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation.

Sarah Parshall Perry, senior legal fellow at Defending Education, said it refiled the complaint after district leaders were recorded saying the program had not materially changed, despite the new criteria.

“Our goal is not to make L.A. Unified a target, but rather to make sure that when people say that they are eliminating racially discriminatory aspects of programs,

that they’re actually making good on their word,” Perry said.

In a written statement, the school district said its programs are aligned with state and federal laws and are open to all students.

Makeda Walker-Deen, a junior at Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, said the program has supported her in several ways through high school.

A program counselor directed her toward college preparation programs, which made it possible for her to visit the University of California-Berkeley, and Stanford, colleges where she is thinking of applying. Psychologists and social workers she connected with have helped her navigate pressure and anxiety.

“I think that the things a lot of critics are saying are so unreasonable,” she said. “They’re saying that a program that’s meant to help Black students, other students of color, is discriminatory.

We’ve been discriminated against in school systems basically our entire lives.”

The district has seen signs of impact. In recent state testing, Black students in the district outperformed the average Black student in California.

“When you provide teachers and school personnel with knowledge and skills to help your lowest performing students, everyone wins,” said Tyrone Howard, an education professor at UCLA who consulted on the initiative.

Organizers worry pressures on the program will slow efforts to address inequities for Black students.

“Where is the uproar about the failings of the public education system for Black children?” said Christian Flagg, director of youth organizing at Community Coalition, which lobbied for the creation of the achievement plan.

“We have had this student group at the bottom for so long, these massive gaps for so long. But when we do something to try to address it, there’s a problem.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JAE C. HONG

Makeda Walker-Deen, a junior at Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High School in Los Angeles, says the Black Student Achievement Plan created by the Los Angeles Unified School District helped her visit colleges and navigate pressure and anxiety.

ment’s approach to civil rights in schools has taken several forms under Trump.

The Justice Department has released school districts from courtordered desegregation plans dating to the Civil Rights Movement, describing them as outdated and burdensome. The Education Department has stripped funding from some districts that used it to create magnet schools intended to be more diverse.

In correspondence discouraging districts’ diversity programs, the administration has repeatedly cited a broad interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action, which prevented colleges and universities from directly considering race in admissions.

While that ruling pertained only to admissions, the administration last winter notified schools that any differential treatment based on race was unconstitutional. A federal court struck down that guidance last year, but advocates say schools may still preemptively end equity programs to avoid drawing federal scrutiny.

In Los Angeles, the Justice Department has tried to end another racial equity effort.

In the 1970s, courts ordered the district to address the harms of its Targeting separate L.A. program segregated schools. The case led to The pivot in the federal govern- a short-lived period where Black

students and White students were bused to different schools. The more lasting programs included the district’s magnet schools, and a special designation for “Predominantly Hispanic, Black, Asian or Other Non-Anglo” schools.

That program offers smaller class sizes and additional parentteacher conferences when 70% of the students zoned for that school are students of color. The vast majority of district schools qualify.

In January, the conservative 1776 Project Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the designation, describing it as “a program of overt discrimination against a new minority: White students.”

The next month, the Justice Department filed its own complaint and asked to join the lawsuit.

The district’s “desegregation program has outlived its usefulness to the point of being unconstitutional,” a federal prosecutor said in a news release.

Decades of inequity show that is not true, said lawyer Mark Rosenbaum, who years ago represented students of color in L.A.’s desegregation case.

“The opponents of desegregation always said, ‘Drop desegregation, and we will put resources into these schools,’ ” Rosenbaum said.

“You know, we are still waiting for that to happen.”

Georgia district attorney challenges Bessent refuses to say if Trump is exempt from audits state law that removes party labels

BY KATE BRUMBACK

told reporters. “As far as I’m immunity “underscores the Treasury secretary concerned, it was a beautiful need for the court to conthing,” he said. tinue its inquiry in Florida.” won’t clarify The administration deLawmakers on Wednesday president’s IRS cided to scrap plans for the tried to grill Bessent on the compensation fund, which agreement without success. immunity “Secretary Bessent owes could have included payouts

BY FATIMA HUSSEIN

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent refused to say Wednesday whether President Donald Trump and his family would still get immunity from IRS audits after the administration abandoned plans for a $1.776 billion compensation fund that would have benefited the president’s allies.

“There’s continuing litigation, and I’m unable to comment on ongoing litigation,” Bessent told lawmakers at the Senate Finance Committee hearing.

It was a frustrating answer for Democratic lawmakers looking to get answers from Bessent at a hearing ostensibly focused on the Treasury Department’s budget and came a day after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche seemed to indicate that the portion of the settlement dealing with the IRS audit immunity would still be in effect for the Republican president.

After several failed attempts to get Bessent to answer, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said, “It’s been very clear you’re dodging this and you’re trying to use it as an excuse. It’s just outrageous on behalf of the American republic.”

A White House representative did not respond to an Associated Press inquiry about the status of the settlement. In the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump did not confirm whether the compensation fund had been scrapped or was simply on hold. “I’d have to ask the lawyers, I don’t know,” he

to participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, after bipartisan outrage and a fierce political backlash that threatened to stall key elements of the White House agenda. Still, the status of the IRS immunity deal as part of the controversial settlement crafted to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS remained unclear, though Blanche said Tuesday that “nothing has changed” in that regard.

Last week, a federal judge in Florida overseeing Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS, who had initially dismissed the case, reopened the case and ordered the president’s attorneys to respond to allegations that Trump abandoned his claims to avoid the court’s scrutiny of the deal.

When she initially dismissed the case, Kathleen Williams, the judge handling the lawsuit, admonished the Justice Department for a lack of transparency and said no agency “submitted any settlement documents nor filed any documents ensuring that the settlement was appropriate where there was an outstanding question as to whether an actual case or controversy existed.”

Matt Platkin, a former New Jersey attorney general now at the law firm Platkin LLP, which is representing lawmakers and judges challenging the settlement agreement, called it “one of the greatest scams in American history.”

He told The Associated Press that Blanche’s testimony on Tuesday over plans to scrap the weaponization fund and grant Trump audit

the committee an explanation of what the Treasury knows about the dirty settlement. That’s because his department was involved from beginning to end,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. Wyden asked Bessent: “Does the IRS audit immunity given to Trump, his family, and his businesses still stand?”

Bessent declined to answer, citing the unresolved legal dispute.

If audits and examinations into the president’s taxes were thrown out under the settlement, an untold figure could be wiped from his bill to the federal tax collector.

Previous reporting from the New York Times and ProPublica shows that a long-standing audit of a technique Trump reportedly used to avoid paying taxes years ago could have resulted in an estimated $100 million bill if the IRS had found wrongdoing.

Even some Republicans expressed concern on Wednesday over the plan to shield Trump from the IRS. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, speaking to reporters outside the chambers, said, “I don’t think any American should have a deal like that.”

Nina Olson, founder of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, which has sued the Trump administration over IRS disclosures to immigration enforcement, called the settlement “the lowest point for the IRS since the 1970s and President Nixon’s efforts to help his friends by trying to stop IRS audits of them and hurting his enemies by urging IRS audits on them.”

Associated Press

ATLANTA — A Georgia district attorney said she is challenging the constitutionality of a law that requires nonpartisan elections for most local officials in the five most populous counties in the Atlanta area but not in the rest of the state.

DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston — flanked by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, Clayton County District Attorney Tasha Mosley and Cobb County District Attorney Sonya Allen — announced Wednesday at a park across the street from the state Capitol that she was filing a lawsuit challenging the law. Boston, the lone plaintiff in the lawsuit, asserted that the measure violates the state and federal constitutions and targets Democratic strongholds under the guise of taking politics out of those elections.

“Republicans here at the state Capitol want to make it harder for voters in our counties to choose the people who best represent us and our values,” Boston said.

“But today we are here at the state Capitol to tell those lawmakers that we will not shy away from speaking up for the people of Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Fulton counties.”

She dismissed the idea that the law is meant to improve public safety or remove politics from the equation.

“I think the intent of the law when you look at who they’ve targeted is very clear,” Boston said. “They have chosen to go after Democratic strongholds where Democratic DAs and Democratic officials have been successful in these races.”

The lawsuit was filed against the state of Georgia. In an emailed statement, Kara Murray, a spokesperson for state Attorney General Chris Carr, said, “We will defend the law as enacted and signed by the Governor.”

Willis and Boston had previously threatened to sue over the law when Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed it last month. They suggested that one reason Republicans were targeting those five counties was because they all have Black women as their elected district attorneys.

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4A ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BERTRAND

Continued from page 1A been deferred. If the overlay district proceeded, it would need City Council approval.

Boulet said in a statement that LCG would reexamine the Lafayette Development Code as it applies to revitalization projects in the city. She said she is working with business owners to create an appropriate one.

“After several conversations with council members, I can say we are all interested in a code that works with our businesses, not against them. We will be formulating the appropriate changes to the code for public input prior to implementation,” Boulet wrote.

Deano’s Pizza owner Tim Metcalf, once a proponent of the Bertrand Drive project, said he believes business owners were misled and has since pulled his support.

“We were sold a bait-andswitch,” Metcalf, who hosted several concerned business owners at his restaurant Monday afternoon, said.

When the project was first proposed, changes to the roadway were minimal, and the project was supposed to last a year, he said.

Now, he said that the project has ballooned into something he never expected.

One sentiment that was consistent among business owners was the lament over the elimination of a dedicated turning lane and an overlay district that was never communicated to them when the Boulet administration sold them on the idea.

Regarding the turning lane, Boulet argued that many of the project’s elements would not work while maintaining it.

Metcalf, along with several other business owners, first learned about the overlay district at a meeting with Boulet and LCG engineers and planners about two weeks ago, he said.

“Then the city ran away real fast,” Metcalf said. “The more we read it, the worse it got. They would not give (the document) to us before the meeting.”

STAFF PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK

Deano’s Pizza owner Tim Metcalf says he believes business owners on Bertrand Drive were misled about plans for the project.

of businesses, according to a Lafayette Consolidated Government draft document.

The Bertrand Drive district would have adhered to Type A development standards, which aimed to reinforce a more urban, walkable and pedestrian-oriented environment — prioritizing building placement near streets, pedestrian access, and eliminating or minimizing prominent parking lots.

The Type A requirements were triggered automatically when the project met certain criteria, Boulet said, including on-street parking, speed limits under 35 mph, street classification, a mix of uses and a higher-density area.

The Bertrand Drive corridor would have been the first area in Lafayette subject to the city’s Type What’s in the overlay district?

A development standards.

As far as building design philosoThe goal of the overlay district is to provide a cohesive design phy goes, several rules would have across buildings along the road- limited which materials could be way and to prohibit certain types used, and set requirements for the

front-facing appearance of businesses.

Metal buildings, or buildings with exposed metal walls, would be prohibited, as would dark-tinted windows. Setbacks would max out at 10 feet, and all utilities would have to be placed underground.

The standard would also set certain signage requirements.

Metcalf said all three of his businesses on Bertrand would be considered noncompliant. As it stands, likely no business along Bertrand would currently comply with the standards.

Terry Delhomme, co-owner of Armstrong and McCall, a beauty supply store on Bertrand Drive, said he fears future owners or businesses undergoing major renovations could be required to comply with the standards.

“If you change that zoning, it’s totally going to cause us to lose money down the road,” Delhomme said. “Now we’re not interested in seeing the project go forward. If

they want to work with us and be reasonable and not take too much and do too much, we’re all for it.“ Additionally, several types of future businesses would be prohibited from operating in the district, including: n Convenience stores with fuel sales n Car washes n Pawnshops n Bail bond services n Auto and truck repair n Manufactured home dealers n Cemeteries n Adult businesses n Self-storage facilities n Building material sales and services Prohibited uses and sign regulations were the only requirements that Boulet sought in the overlay district, she said.

The city first unveiled Bertrand Drive’s redesign back in April. The goal is to provide pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and connect the University of Louisiana at Lafay-

HOUSE

to inflationary pressure on consumer spending.

Iran has been able to interrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel for a large segment of the world’s oil, natural gas and related products such as fertilizer.

“We’re working on that final piece,” said Johnson, R-Benton.

“The entire world has an interest in the Strait of Hormuz being re-

opened for commerce. That’s what he’s working on.”

While a ceasefire in the conflict was declared in April, it remains uneasy and uncertain. Talks for a more durable end to the fighting have dragged, increasingly complicated by Israel’s broadening war with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Meanwhile, military strikes between the U.S. and Iran continue to flare.

The war powers resolution from the House would not immediately stop the war, but it would provide a symbolic — if not legal — step against further military action.

The resolution next goes to the Senate, where four Republican senators last month joined Democrats in advancing a similar measure to curtail the U.S. campaign

against Iran. The Senate has yet to take a final vote to approve or reject its own war powers resolution.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Wednesday at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing that the Iranians would think that the administration’s “hands are going to be tied” if Congress approved a war powers resolution. He said they would think “we won’t be able to do anything to them, so why make a deal?”

It’s not the only action Congress is taking in the national security arena as Democrats, in the minority, work to peel off Republican support for measures beyond the war against Iran.

The House also voted Wednesday on another Democratic-led effort, a procedural step toward a measure that would authorize U.S. support for Ukraine’s military operations as it battles Russia and would help reconstruct the wartorn country. That vote is expected later this week. The House also expected to consider a war powers resolution to block U.S. action in Lebanon.

While Congress has the authority under the Constitution to declare war, the president also has power as the commander in chief to engage in military action, creating a legal dispute over which branch of government has ultimate say in matters of war and peace. If the Senate joins the House to approve the resolution, it could set the stage for a fresh legal test of war powers.

Under the war powers act, the White House has a 60-day window to seek approval from Congress for military action. The administration, however, has indicated that because a ceasefire has been declared in the current conflict in Iran, the hostilities have ceased.

pact those local programs.

“The city is currently reviewing the legislation that removes the requirement for brake tags and vehicle inspection stickers,” said Jonah Gilmore, spokesperson for New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno. “We are evaluating the law and its potential impact on operations within Orleans Parish to determine how the city will proceed.”

And the capital region — the

parishes of Ascension, Iberville, Livingston, East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge — are still subject to federal Clean Air Act emissions testing requirements.

“In these parishes, vehicles will continue to obtain emissions control stickers and pay the associated $8 fee,” according to a fiscal analysis of the legislation. About 314,000 emissions control stickers are sold annually, the analysis says.

Drivers in the New Orleans area and capital region will also be required to get the new Louisiana Vehicle Identification Program QR code, according to the OMV. Starting on June 30, law enforcement officers will be prohibited from issuing tickets for not displaying an inspection sticker.

Under the legislation, House Bill 1085, personal vehicles will no longer need state inspection stickers effective Jan. 1, but commercial

vehicles and school buses are still required to do regular safety inspections.

A spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Insurance said it has received no indication from auto insurers that ending the inspection sticker requirement will affect insurance rates and that department has “no reason to anticipate that it would.”

Staff writer Marco Cartolano contributed to this story.

Continued from page 1A markets.”

The roll call Wednesday was 215208, but next steps are uncertain.

Trump would likely reject any measure from Congress to limit his commander-in-chief authority. Still, the tally, with four Republicans joining Democrats, was a rebuke of the president’s war strategy, and cheers erupted in the House chamber.

Opposition to war grows It’s the fourth time the House has tried to curb the U.S. war against Iran. The Senate advanced its own war powers resolution last month when a handful of GOP senators broke ranks with the Republican president in a rare show of political pushback from his party.

Each time Democrats have pushed forward the war powers resolution, the vote tallies have inched higher as political unease with the U.S. war swells. Trump had campaigned for the White House on a promise to end U.S. entanglements abroad and focus more on domestic issues, but the war has shifted attention back to the Middle East.

Johnson insisted Trump is “laser focused” on the domestic front, particularly ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.

The speaker said he spent three hours at the White House with the president this week and Trump is calling on allies to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume the flow of commerce.

Since the U.S. joined Israel in launching the Feb. 28 strikes on Iran, Americans have seen gas prices spike at the pumps, adding

STICKERS

Continued from page 1A eas, however, will still have to periodically trek to inspection facilities to comply with requirements there.

The cities of New Orleans, Kenner and Westwego run their own local vehicle inspection programs.

The new state law does not im-

ette’s Cajun Field to Moncus Park.

The design emphasizes foot traffic and slower driving speeds, and a major redesign of the Johnston Street and South College intersections.

From what was unveiled, the road’s center turning lane would be removed to make way for a 12-foot walking path on one side of the street and 6-foot sidewalk on the other. The roadway would feature several raised pedestrian crossings fixed with lighting.

Roadwork is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027 and end in 2028. The project is anticipated to cost between $11 million and $13 million.

“Let me be clear. We can revitalize older parts of town, build safe pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and build roadways that accommodate vehicles. In addition, we can do it without an unreasonable burden on our businesses. It is our responsibility to find that balance,” Boulet wrote.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-Benton, prepares to talk to reporters at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Congress exerts its authority

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● 5A

lll

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

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Public Notices

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL Request for proposals will be accepted until 10:00 a.m., June 30, 2026 at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office at 316 W. Main Street, Lafayette, Louisiana for the follow‐ ing: ADVANCED TRANSMIS‐ SION X-RAY BODY SCAN‐ NING SYSTEM For information on this RFP, contact Armen.

Alexandrian@lafayettesh eriff.com at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Documents are also available at the Sheriff’s Office Website at www. lafayettesheriff.com.

RFP’s received after the above date and time will be returned unopened.

RFP’s will be evaluated by and purchased based on quality, cost and adaptability of said items. The Sheriff re‐ serves the right to reject any and all proposals deemed unsuitable in the best public interest.

Mark T. Garber, Sheriff Parish of Lafayette 189155-may 28-jun 4-18-3t $54 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received either electroni‐ cally at https://lafayet tecsdgovla.tylerportico. com/va/vendor-access/ registration or in the of‐ fice of the Purchasing Di‐ vision at the Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment Building, located at 705 West University Av‐ enue, Lafayette, Louisiana, until 11:00 AM Central Time on the 29th day of June, 2026 for the following: WASTEWATER COLLEC‐ TION SYSTEM REHABILI‐ TATION – 2026 POINT RE‐ PAIR PROJECT and will, shortly there‐ after, be opened and read aloud in a room lo‐ cated at 705 West Univer‐ sity Avenue, Lafayette, LA. Bids received after the above specified time for opening shall not be considered and shall be returned unopened to the sender. Bidders are encouraged to join the bid opening in-person or may join the bid opening virtually via Zoom using the following link: https://us02web.zoom. us/j/88090643735? pwd=Op0NINDas4j6V35 Ir67jyXFpty2WnG.1 DEADLINE FOR QUSTIONS OR EXCEPTIONS: All question or exceptions regarding this project must be submitted no later than noon 12:00p.m.

(CST) on Monday, June 22, 2026. Any questions and/or exceptions per‐ taining to this project, specifications and bid documents must be sent in writing via email to Dabne Dover @ dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov.

All exceptions and ques‐ tions affecting the pro‐ ject, specifications or bid documents, shall be ad‐ dressed in the form of an addendum and will be sent to all bidders on record. No verbal corre‐ spondence will be bind‐ ing.

SCOPE OF SERVICES: The rehabilitation of deterio‐ rated wastewater collec‐ tion mains using point repair will require exca‐ vation to correct struc‐ tural defects and to re‐ duce inflow/infiltration.

All work to be completed within 180 calendar days from the Notice to Pro‐ ceed.

In accordance with Louisiana RS 38:2212. vendors may submit their bid electronically at the website listed above.

Bidders wishing to sub‐ mit their bid electroni‐ cally must first be regis‐ tered within LCG Vendor Access at the website listed above. The regis‐ tration process can take some time; therefore, LCG recommends regis‐ tering days in advance of the time that bids are due. It is the sole respon‐ sibility of the bidder to ensure their bid is deliv‐ ered (whether electroni‐ cally via Vendor Access, in person, or via mail) to the Purchasing Division prior to the scheduled date and time of the bid opening. Vendors may request the bid package electronically from Dabne Dover at dabne‐ dover@lafayettela.gov.

Contractors wishing to submit their bid electron‐ ically must first be regis‐ tered online with Lafayette Consolidated Govern‐ ment as a potential sup‐ plier at the website listed above.

Contractors submitting bids electronically are re‐ quired to provide the same documents as bid‐ ders submitting through the mail as soon as avail‐ able. Only a bid bond, certified check or

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Public Notices Bids/Proposals

cashier’s check shall be submitted as the bid se‐ curity. Electronic copies of both the front and back of the check or bid bond shall be included with the electronic bid. If a vendor fails to provide the original hard copies of the bid documents within 48 hours of the bid opening, their bid shall be considered nonre‐ sponsive.

Bids must be signed in accordance with LRS Title 38:2212(B)5. A Cor‐ porate Resolution or Cer‐ tificate of Authority au‐ thorizing the person signing the bid is re‐ quired to be submitted with bid. Failure to sub‐ mit a Corporate Resolu‐ tion or Certificate of Au‐ thority with the bid shall be cause for rejection of bid.

Copies of the bidding documents are available at the office of Purchas‐ ing & Property Manage‐ ment ATTN: Dabne Dover (337-2918262) located at 705 West University Avenue Lafayette LA 70506. Bid Documents shall be available until twentyfour hours before the bid opening date. Questions relative to the bidding documents shall be addressed to Dabne Dover at dabnedover@ LafayetteLA.gov or 337291-8262.

Each bid shall be accom‐ panied by a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond payable to the Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government, the amount of which shall be five percent (5%) of the base bid plus additive al‐ ternates. If a bid bond is used, it shall be written by a surety or insurance company currently on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Financial Management Service list of approved bonding companies which is pub‐ lished annually in the Federal Register, or by a Louisiana domiciled in‐ surance company with at least an A-Rating in the latest printing of the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide to write individual bonds up to ten percent (10%) of policyholders’ surplus as shown in the A.M. Best’s Key Rating Guide, or by an insurance com‐ pany in good standing li‐ censed to write bid bonds which is either domiciled in Louisiana or owned by Louisiana resi‐ dents. The bid bond shall be issued by a company licensed to do business in Louisiana. The certi‐ fied check, cashier’s check, or bid bond shall be given as a guarantee that the bidder shall exe‐ cute the contract, should it be awarded to him, in conformity with the con‐ tract documents within ten (10) days.

No contractors may with‐ draw his bid for at least forty-five (45) days after the time scheduled for the opening of bids. Each bid shall be submitted only on the bid form provided with the specifications.

The successful contractor will be required to exe‐ cute performance and labor and material pay‐ ment bonds in the full amount of the contract as more fully defined in the bid docu‐ ments.

Bids will be evaluated by the Purchaser based on the lowest responsible and responsive bid sub‐ mitted which is also in compli‐ ance with the bid docu‐ ments.

Contractors or contract‐ ing firms submitting bids in the amount of $50,000.00 or more shall certify that they are licensed contractors under Chapter 24 of Title 37 of the Louisiana Re‐ vised Statutes of 1950 and show their license number on the front of the sealed envelope in which their bid is enclosed. Contrac‐ tors shall be licensed for the clas‐ sification of “Municipal and Public Works Con‐ struction”. Bids in the amounts specified above which have not bid in accor‐ dance with the require‐ ments, shall be rejected and shall not be read. Additional informa‐ tion relative to licensing may be obtained from the Louisiana State Li‐ censing Board for Contractors, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The Lafayette Consoli‐ dated Government strongly encourages the participation of DBEs (Disadvantaged Business Enterprises) in all contracts or procure‐ ments let by the Lafayette Consolidated Government for goods and services and labor and material. To that end, all contractors and suppliers are en‐ couraged to utilize DBEs business en‐ terprises in the purchase or sub-contracting of materials, supplies, ser‐ vices and labor and material in which disadvantaged businesses are available.

Assistance in identifying said businesses may be ob‐ tained by calling 2918410.

PURCHASING DIVISION Lafayette Consolidated

Public Notices Bids/Proposals

Government PUBLISH DATES: 6/4/26, 6/7/26, 6/14/26 DPR 1006184 189704-JUN 4-7-14-3T $216.84

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE --A vacancy will exist on the City of Scott Planning Commission for a fiveyear term effective July 17, 2026.

Individuals wishing to submit a resume for the above vacancy must be a registered voter and a resident of the City of Scott. Yearly ethics train‐ ing for all appointees is required. Resumes are to be forwarded to Bonnie Anderson, Comprehen‐ sive Plan Facilitator, City of Scott, P.O. Box 517, Scott, LA 70583, hand de‐ livered to 125 Lions Club Road, Scott, LA 70583 or emailed to banderson@ cityofscott.org no later than 5pm, Monday, June 22, 2026 with appoint‐ ment to be made at the July 2, 2026 Regular Meeting of the Scott City Council. Resume submis‐ sions are public record.

189548-jun 4-11-18-3t $26.91 PUBLIC NOTICE --NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION Notice is hereby given that GBB Properties Two, L.L.C., a Louisiana Lim‐ ited Liability Company, is being dissolved out of court in accordance with documents filed and recorded in the Office of the Secretary of State on May 20, 2026. Any credi‐ tor or person having a claim against the said Company shall submit such claim or claims in writing and in detail to Donna B. Hines, Liquida‐ tor of the Company, at 3636 N. Causeway Blvd, Ste 300, Metairie, LA 70002 on or before De‐ cember 15, 2026. The publication of this notice shall not be deemed an acknowledgment of the validity of any claim against the Company, waiver of any defense or set-off to any such claim, interruption of prescrip‐ tion on, or tolling of any statute of limitation ap‐ plicable to any such claim, or revival of any claim which has been barred by any prescrip‐ tion, peremption, or statute of limitations.

189186-may 28-jun 4-2t $250.44

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

SHERIFF'S SALE CLAYTON J. VOORHIES, JR. AND PEGGY HADLEY VOORHIES Versus No. 20257018 WBATGC, INC. 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of AMENDED SEIZURE AND SALE issued in the here‐ inabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING SITUATED IN SEC‐ TION 43, T10S, R5E, LAFAYETTE PARISH, AND BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS TRACT 3A (2.05 ACRES), MORE OR LESS, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH MEASUREMENTS, BOUNDARIES, CONFIGU‐ RATIONS AND DIMEN‐ SIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DE‐ SCRIBED ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY MONTAG‐ NET AND DOMINGUE, INC. DATED NOVEMBER 13, 2019 AND RECORDED AT FILE NO. 2020-1253, IN THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH. FOR INFORMATIONAL PUR‐ POSES ONLY: SAID LOT BEARS THE MUNICIPAL ADDRESS OF 2601 SE EVANGELINE THRUWAY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508.

BEING A PORTION OF THE SAME PROPERTY AC‐ QUIRED BY CLAYTON J. VOORHIES, JR. IN PART BY THAT ACT DESCRIBED AS THE JUDGMENT OF POS‐ SESSION IN THE MATTER OF THE SUCCESSION OF AUBREY 0. HENDERSON DATED AND RECORDED MAY 8, 2007 UNDER

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SOUTH (T-8-S), RANGE 4 EAST (R-4-E), LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, CON‐ TAINING 0.818 ARPENTS AND BOUNDED AS FOL‐ LOWS: NORTH BY TRACT NO. 5 OF THE PLAT OF SURVEY HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO; SOUTH BY TRACT NO. 3 OF SAID PLAT; WEST BY TRACT NO. 1 OF SAID PLAT; AND, EAST BY U.S. HIGHWAY 167; BEING IDENTIFIED AS TRACT NO. 4 OF THE PLAT OF SURVEY MADE BY FRED L. COLOMB. SUR‐ VEYOR, DATED DECEM‐ BER 7, 1953, WHICH PLAT IS ATTACHED TO ACT OF PARTITION RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 297332 OF THE RECORDER’S OF‐ FICE, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA; SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, SERVI‐ TUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MIN‐ ERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AFFECTING THE PROP‐ ERTY. MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 4903 N UNIVER‐ SITY AVE., CARENCRO, LA 70520 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: MAY 7, 2026 & JUNE 4, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $34.11

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Public Notices Sheriff Sales

ENTRY NO. 2007-19532, AS AMENDED BY THAT ACT DATED AND RECORDED NOVEMBER 12, 2007 UNDER ENTRY NO. 200750808, AND IN PART BY THAT ACT DESCRIBED AS THE JUDGMENT OF POS‐ SESSION IN THE MATTER OF THE SUCCESSION OF BONNIE BELLE RAN‐ DOLPH HENDERSON DATED APRIL 10, 2008 RECORDED APRIL 11, 2008 UNDER ENTRY NO. 200814223, ALL OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. MU‐ NICIPAL ADDRESS: 2601 SE EVANGELINE THRUWAY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70508 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $41.19 SHERIFF'S SALE HOME BANK, N.A. Versus No. 20257142 JASON PAUL ROBINO 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JUNE 10, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES, AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING OR IN ANY‐ WISE APPERTAINING, LO‐ CATED IN SECTION 35, TOWNSHIP 10 SOUTH, RANGE 5 EAST, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT 7, MAGNO‐ LIA RIDGE, AS SHOWN ON THE SUBDIVISION PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY DUBROC ENGINEERING INC., DATED JULY 27, 2001, LAST REVISED MARCH 20, 2002, AND RECORDED APRIL 18, 2002, UNDER ACT NO. 02-017750 IN THE RECORDS OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT’S OF‐ FICE. THE LOT HAVING A FRONTAGE ON LANTANA COURT WITH SUCH FUR‐ THER DIMENSIONS, MEA‐ SUREMENTS, BOUND‐ ARIES, SHAPE, FORM, LO‐ CATION AND CONFIGURA‐ TION AS SHOWN ON THE SUBDIVISION PLAT OF SURVEY AND IS BOUNDED WESTERLY BY LANTANA COURT, NORTHERLY BY LOT 8, EASTERLY BY PROPERTY LOCATED IN BEAU CLOS SUBDIVISION, AND SOUTHERLY BY LOT 6. BEING THE SAME PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY JASON PAUL ROBING BY ACT OF CASH SALE FROM JOHN AL LINGO OF EVEN DATE AND RECORDED IN THE RECORDS OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT’S OF‐ FICE. THE PROPERTY OR ITS ADDRESS IS COM‐ MONLY KNOWN AS 103 LANTANA COURT, BROUS‐ SARD, LA 70518-7618.

THIS PROPERTY WAS PREVIOUSLY OFFERED WITH APPRAISEMENT, BUT NO BIDS WERE RE‐ CEIVED, SO THE SALE WILL BE OFFERED AT COST AND ACCORDING TO LAW. ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: MAY 7, 2026 & JUNE 4, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $40.76 SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC Versus No. 20252041 HRISTOPHER ALLEN HEINS AND JEAN‐ NETTE BOURQUE HEINS 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of FI FA issued in the here‐ inabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, i i b h

Public Notices Sheriff Sales y Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL THE BUILDINGS AND IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS EVANGELINE GROVE, PHASE I, AND BEING DES‐ IGNATED ON THE OFFI‐ CIAL PLAN OF SAID SUB‐ DIVISION, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF SAID PARISH AND STATE, AS LOT NUMBER SEVENTYFOUR (74), SAID SUBDIVI‐ SION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH SIZE, SHAPE AND DIMENSIONS AND BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AS ARE SHOWN ON SAID MAP; SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, SERVI‐ TUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MIN‐ ERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AFFECTING THE PROP‐ ERTY. MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 411 OUACHITA DRIVE, LAFAYETTE, LA 70506 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $33.69 SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC Versus No. 20252202 DESTIN WILTZ AND SEDARA RANDLE WILTZ 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: ONE (1) CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL OF THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTE‐ NANCES AND ADVAN‐ TAGES HEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING OR IN ANYWISE APPERTAINING, SITUATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, IN THAT SUB‐ DIVISION KNOWN AS FAIRGROUNDS PLACE SUBDIVISION, PHASE III, AND DESIGNATED ON THE OFFICIAL PLAN THEREOF, ON FILE AND OF RECORD IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AS LOT NUM‐ BER ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR (124), SAID SUBDIVISION, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH MEA‐ SUREMENTS AND DIMEN‐ SIONS AND BEING SUB‐ JECT TO SUCH SERVI‐ TUDES AND RESTRIC‐ TIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID MAP; SUBJECT TO RE‐ STRICTIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐ FECTING THE PROPERTY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 507 BREAUX ROAD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70507 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.04 SHERIFF'S SALE LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVIC‐ ING, LLC Versus No. 20257466 MARK J. HO‐ TARD AND KATHLEEN WHITTINGTON HOTARD 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JUNE 10, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PLOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS AND THE COMPO‐ NENT PARTS THEREOF, SITUATED IN SECTION 43, T9S, R4E, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND BEING SHOWN AND DE‐ PICTED AS PLOT I ON THAT CERTAIN MAP OF SURVEY PREPARED BY COLOMB & LAURENT, SURVEYOR & ENGINEER, DATED FEBRUARY 11, 1960, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT CERTAIN ACT FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 423428, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH MAP OF SURVEY IS MADE A PART HEREOF

BY REFERENCE THERETO, SAID PLOT BEING ALL THE PROPERTY CONTAINED WITHIN THE LETTERS A, B, C, D AND A ON SAID MAP OF SURVEY, MEA‐ SURING 91.7 FEET, MORE OR LESS, ON ITS SOUTHERLY BOUNDARY LINE AND 90.0 FEET, MORE OR LESS, ON ITS NORTHERLY BOUNDARY LINE, AND HAVING SUCH FURTHER MEASURE‐ MENTS, BOUNDARIES, CONFIGURATIONS AND DIMENSIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON SAID MAP OF SURVEY. AND THAT CERTAIN PLOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS AND THE COMPO‐ NENT PARTS THEREOF, SITUATED IN SECTION 43, T9S, R4E, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, CON‐ TAINING 0.104 OF AN ACRE, MORE OR LESS, AND BEING SHOWN AND DEPICTED AS PLOT 1-A ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY IRVIN L. DERANGER, P.E. & P.L.S., DATED AUGUST 22, 2006, A COPY OF WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT CERTAIN ACT FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 200639990, RECORDS OF PARISH, LAFAYETTE LOUISIANA, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFER‐ ENCE THERETO, SAID PLOT MEASURING 18.38 FEET, MORE OR LESS, ON ITS SOUTHERLY BOUND‐ ARY LINE AND HAVING SUCH FURTHER MEA‐ SUREMENTS, BOUND‐ ARIES, CONFIGURATIONS AND DIMENSIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. AND THAT CERTAIN PLOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL BUILD‐ INGS AND IMPROVE‐ MENTS AND THE COMPO‐ NENT PARTS THEREOF, SITUATED IN SECTION 43, T9S, R4E, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND BEING SHOWN AND DE‐ PICTED AS “40’ R/W FOR ROAD” ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PRE‐ PARED BY IRVIN L. DE‐ RANGER, P.E. & P.L.S., DATED AUGUST 22, 2006, A COPY OF WHICH IS AT‐ TACHED TO THAT CER‐ TAIN ACT FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2006-39990, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE A PART HEREOF

BY REFERENCE THERETO, SAID PLOT MEASURING 40.8 FEET, MORE OR LESS, ON ITS SOUTHERLY BOUNDARY LINE AND HAVING SUCH FURTHER MEASUREMENTS, BOUND‐ ARIES, CONFIGURATIONS AND DIMENSIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS, SERVI‐ TUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MIN‐ ERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AFFECTING THE PROP‐ ERTY. MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS: 149 EAST BUTCHER SWITCH ROAD, LAFAYETTE, LA 70507.

ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: MAY 7, 2026 & JUNE 4, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $54.05 SHERIFF'S SALE NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Versus No. 20231141 RANDY MARK MATT AND MARY A. MATT 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JUNE 10, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN TRACT OF LAND SITUATED IN SEC‐ TION 121, TOWNSHIP 8

NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Versus No. 20257255 BAILEY MELAN‐ CON 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS AND THE COMPONENT PARTS THEREOF, SITU‐ ATED IN SECTION 4 AND/OR 9, T11S, R5E, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA AND BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT 419 OF CY‐ PRESS MEADOWS, PHASE III-B, SAID LOT HAVING SUCH MEASUREMENTS, BOUNDARIES, CONFIGU‐ RATIONS AND DIMEN‐ SIONS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN AND DE‐ SCRIBED ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY FILED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2021-50071, RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH PLAT OF SURVEY IS MADE A PART HEREOF BY REFER‐ ENCE THERETO. (THE PROPERTY”) MU‐ NICIPAL ADDRESS: 306 WHITE SKY DRIVE, BROUSSARD, LA 70518 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $33.26

SHERIFF'S SALE PELICAN STATE CREDIT UNION Versus No. 20257740 WENDELL J. SMITH 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITH*** appraise‐ ment, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT FOUR (4) OF WILLOWCREEK SUBDI‐ VISION, PHASE 1. A SUB‐ DIVISION OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY ALDON A. LEBLANC, P.E. & P.L.S., AND ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2002-25683 AND MADE PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE, AND BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFERENCE THERETO AS HAVING A FRONTAGE ON BLANCO DRIVE AND HAV‐ ING SUCH DIMENSIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEA‐ SUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. IN‐ CLUDING THAT CERTAIN MOBILE HOME IMMOBI‐ LIZED BY THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2005-50895 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. SAID TRACT HAS BEEN ERRONEOUSLY DE‐ SCRIBED IN THOSE CER‐ TAIN ACTS RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NOS. 20165949, 2014-19134, 20141548, 2013-35636, 201239411 AND 2005-50894 AS BEING DESCRIBED ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY DATED MAY 20, 1958 BY G.K. LANGLINAIS RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 396135 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, WHICH TRACT DE‐ SCRIBED ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY IS THE TRACT OF LAND OUT OF WHICH WILLOWCREEK SUBDIVISION PHASE I WAS DEDICATED, WHICH IS MORE FULLY SHOWN ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY BY ALDON A. LEBLANC, P.E. & P.L.S. RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2002-25683 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. THE MUNICIPAL ADDRESS IS 107 BLANCO DRIVE, YOUNGSVILLE, LOUISIANA 70592 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

& JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $42.48 SHERIFF'S SALE PENNYMAC LOAN SER‐ VICES, LLC Versus No. 20260401 WILLIAM REESE BROWN A/K/A WILLIAM R. BROWN A/K/A WILLIAM BROWN 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JUNE 10, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL THE RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVILEGES, SERVITUDES, APPURTENANCES AND ADVANTAGES THERE‐ UNTO BELONGING AND ALL APPURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS LOT FORTY-SEVEN (47) OF BELLE CHASSE GARDENS SUBDIVISION, A SUBDIVI‐ SION OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA, ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY DOMINGUE, SZABO & AS‐ SOCIATES, INC. DATED APRIL 14, 1964, ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 470255 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND MADE PART HEREOF BY REFER‐ ENCE, AND BEING DE‐ SCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING A FRONTAGE OF 70.00 FEET ON ALPHA DRIVE AND IS BOUNDED WEST‐ ERLY BY ALPHA DRIVE, NORTHERLY BY LOT 48 OF SAID SUBDIVISION, EAST‐ ERLY BY PORTIONS OF LOTS 42 AND 43 OF SAID SUBDIVISION, AND SOUTHERLY BY LOT 46 OF SAID SUBDIVISION, AND HAVING SUCH OTHER DI‐ MENSIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEASUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 106 ALPHA DRIVE, LAFAYETTE, LA 70506 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: MAY 7, 2026 & JUNE 4, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $37.33 SHERIFF'S SALE PLANET HOME LENDING, LLC Versus No. 20262340 DANIEL FARREL BOUTIN, JR. 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITU‐ ATED IN THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, STATE OF LOUISIANA, AND IS DE‐ SCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND THEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING, SITUATED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED LOT FORTY -NINE (49) OF SUNDOWN PLACE SUBDIVISION, WITH THE FURTHER DIMENSIONS, BOUNDARIES, SHAPE, FORM, LOCATION AND CONFIGURATION AS SHOWN ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY OF SAID SUBDIVISION PRE‐ PARED BY RODNEY A. NAYLOR, C.E., R.L.S., AT‐ TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY 95-40357 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT. THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY ACQUIRED BY RODNEY MAZIEL AND JERRIE MAZIEL FROM CHRISTIN GERARD BUCHTA, SR. BY CASH SALE DATED MARCH 15, 2022, RECORDED APRIL 8,2022, UNDER ENTRY NUMBER 2022 X 114366 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 216 SUNDOWN DR., BROUSSARD, LA 70518 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $36.47 SHERIFF'S SALE REGIONS BANK Versus No. 20262499 SHARON DERSAM WIFE OF/AND GABRIEL DERSAM

Public Notices Sheriff Sales

CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY DATED JULY 13, 1984, PRE‐ PARED BY DANIEL D. DOMINGUE, RLS, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 84-32408 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, AND BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFERENCE THERETO AS HAVING SUCH DIMEN‐ SIONS, BOUNDARIES, MEASUREMENTS AND CONFIGURATIONS AS IS MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 521 D ARCEANEAUX ROAD, SCOTT, LA 70583 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $33.26 SHERIFF'S SALE VILLAGE CAPITAL & IN‐ VESTMENT LLC Versus No. 20253148 MATTHEW BALQUE A/K/A MATTHEW BALQUE, SR. AND MIYON PACK BALQUE 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JUNE 10, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN PARCEL OF GROUND, TOGETHER WITH ALL IMPROVE‐ MENTS THEREON, AND ALL RIGHTS, WAYS, PRIVI‐ LEGES, SERVITUDES, AP‐ PURTENANCES AND AD‐ VANTAGES THEREUNTO BELONGING AND ALL AP‐ PURTENANCES THEREOF, BEING KNOWN AND DES‐ IGNATED AS LOT TWENTY-SIX (26) OF FRENCHMAN’S TRAIL, PHASE II-A, A SUBDIVI‐ SION OF THE PARISH OF LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA ON THAT CERTAIN PLAT OF SURVEY PREPARED BY BARRY J. BLEICHNER, AT‐ TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2009-52183 OF THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, AND MADE PART HEREOF BY REFERENCE, AND BEING DESCRIBED WITH REFER‐ ENCE THERETO AS HAV‐ ING SUCH DIMENSIONS, BOUNDARIES AND MEA‐ SUREMENTS AS ARE MORE FULLY SHOWN ON SAID PLAT OF SURVEY; SUBJECT TO RESTRIC‐ TIONS, SERVITUDES, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND OUTSTANDING MINERAL RIGHTS OF RECORD AF‐ FECTING THE PROPERTY. MUNICIPAL ADDRESS: 500 MAGNOLIA KNEE DRIVE, CARENCRO, LA 70520 ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: MAY 7, 2026 & JUNE 4, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $35.83 SHERIFF'S SALE WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Versus No. 20247825 JOSHUA SMITH (A/K/A JOSHUA J. SMITH) 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of AMENDED SEIZURE AND SALE issued in the here‐ inabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: THAT CERTAIN LOT OR PARCEL OF GROUND, TO‐ GETHER WITH ALL IM‐ PROVEMENTS THEREON AND THEREUNTO BE‐ LONGING, SITUATED IN THE LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, BEING KNOWN AND DESIG‐ NATED AS LOT THIRTY ONE (31) OF FIELDSPAN HEIGHTS, PHASE I, WITH THE FURTHER DIMEN‐ SIONS, BOUNDARIES, SHAPE, FORM, LOCATION AND CONFIGURATION AS SHOWN ON THAT CER‐ TAIN PLAT OF SURVEY OF SAID SUBDIVISION DATED AUGUST 5, 2003, PRE‐ PARED BY MONTAGNET AND DOMINGUE AND AT‐ TACHED TO THAT ACT RECORDED UNDER ENTRY NO. 2005-38805 IN THE RECORDS OF LAFAYETTE PARISH CLERK OF COURT. HAVING A MUNICIPAL AD‐ DRESS OF 105 CREPE MYRTLE LN., DUSON, LA 70529.

ANYONE PURCHASING PROPERTY AT SHERIFF'S SALE IS GIVEN UNTIL 2:00 P.M. ON SALE DAY TO PAY THE FULL PURCHASE AMOUNT BY CERTIFIED FUNDS PUBLISH ON: JUNE 4, 2026 & JULY 2, 2026 LAFAYETTE PARISH SHER‐ IFF'S OFFICE MARK T. GARBER, SHER‐ IFF $32.83

15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT ---- PARISH OF LAFAYETTE STATE OF LOUISIANA Notice is hereby given that by virtue of a writ of SEIZURE AND SALE is‐ sued in the hereinabove entitled and numbered cause I have seized and taken into my possession and will offer for sale and sell for cash, ***WITHOUT*** ap‐ praisement, to the last and highest bidder, at public auction, at the LAFAYETTE PARISH GOV‐ ERNMENT BUILDING, 1010 LAFAYETTE STREET, 2ND FLOOR in Lafayette, Louisiana, between the legal sale hours com‐ mencing at 10:00 A.M. on WEDNESDAY, ***JULY 8, 2026*** ,the following de‐ scribed property, to wit: ONE CERTAIN TRACT OF LAND LYING AND BEING SITUATED IN SECTION 26, TOWNSHIP 9 SOUTH, RANGE 3 EAST, LAFAYETTE PARISH, LOUISIANA, CONTAINING 7.5079 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, AND BEING DE‐ SCRIBED AND DESIG‐ NATED AS ALL OF TRACTS 8-A1, 8-A2, 8-A3, 8-A4, 8A5 AND 8-A6 ON THAT

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6A ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

TODAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

A shower and thunderstorm

Heavy thunderstorms

Showers and a heavier t-storm

Humid with drenching t-storms

Humid with a thunderstorm

Humid with a few showers

HIGH

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HIGH

LOW

80° 70°

LOW

83° 74°

LOW

84° 76°

HIGH

88° 77°

Beaumont 82/73 Port Arthur 82/74

High/low Normal high/low Last year’s high/low Record high Record low

0s

Hattiesburg 85/63

Baton Rouge 83/69

Lake Charles 81/71 Houma 81/73

10s

20s

30s

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80s

Sunrise today Sunset tonight Moonrise today Moonset today

90s 100s 110s

LAST

JUN 8

City

Shown are areas of precipitation and high temperatures for the day.

Austin Boston Dallas Fairbanks Honolulu Las Vegas Louisville Miami Nashville

24-hour total Month to date Normal month to date year to date Normal year to date

HIGH

10:37p 4:57p 9:34a 12:36p 12:16p 11:36a 1:24p

FT.

0.7 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.3 1.6 1.6

6:06 a.m.

8:06 p.m.

11:46 p.m.

9:32 a.m.

NEW

FIRST

JUN 14

Hi

86 85 86 71 86 105 86 83 86

TODAY Lo

73 64 73 45 75 80 64 76 60

FULL

JUN 21

W

t s t pc sh s s t s

JUN 29

Hi

86 87 86 67 86 106 88 85 88

FRI. Lo

72 67 73 43 74 81 70 76 66

W

t pc t pc r s pc pc pc

LOW

YESTERDAY

TODAY

READING 41 MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

MAIN POLLUTANT Ozone

GOOD

PRECIPITATION

86°/71° 89°/71° 88°/72° 98° in 2019 51° in 1903

TODAY’S TIDES Lake Pontchartrain (Tchefuncte River) Shell Beach South Point, Marsh Island Cypremort Point Grand Isle (Barataria Pass) Mississippi River (Southwest Pass) Wine Island

New Orleans 84/77

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

LOW

89° 72°

TEMPERATURE

Alexandria 82/67

Lafayette 80/70

HIGH

88° 76°

Jackson 86/64 Many 82/66

LOW

Lafayette through 5 p.m. Wednesday

Longview 82/71

-0s

LOW

Monroe 84/66

Shreveport 82/70

-10s

HIGH

Rain and storms are in the forecast again today. In fact, the chance of rain is actually higher than it was yesterday. So, expect a partly cloudy, warm and breezy day with scattered showers and storms.

Winds today will be out of the east at 10-15 mph with gusts as high as 25 mph. Winds tomorrow will be significantly breezy as well.

There is a chance that we could see some minor flooding today, and there is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall that could lead to some measure of flash flooding tomorrow.

1.34” 1.63” 0.66” 28.17” 24.72”

FT.

HIGH

10:09a -0.1 3:11a -0.1 11:24p -0.1 2:49a 0.2 11:45p 0.0 10:10p -0.1 12:16a -0.1

SOURCE: LOUISIANA DEQ AND AIRNOW.GOV

FT.

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The solunar period schedule allows planning days so you will be fishing in good territory or hunting in good cover during those times. Major periods begin at the times shown and last for 1.5 to 2 hours. The minor periods are shorter.

MAJOR MINOR MAJOR MINOR

Today Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

City

3:02a 3:54a 4:45a 5:32a 6:16a 6:59a 7:41a

New Orleans Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Raleigh St. Louis San Diego Tampa

Hi

84 85 89 108 83 89 87 71 87

9:14a 10:06a 10:56a 11:43a 12:04a 12:47a 1:29a

TODAY Lo

77 68 64 80 59 61 69 63 71

3:26p 9:38p 4:17p 10:29p 5:07p 11:18p 5:53p ---6:38p 12:27p 7:21p 1:10p 8:05p 1:53p

W

t pc s s pc s pc pc s

GOOD

Hi

84 87 94 107 84 93 87 71 88

FRI. Lo

75 68 71 80 67 67 69 63 73

W

t pc s s pc s t pc s

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

MISSISSIPPI Memphis Vidalia-Natchez Red River Landing Baton Rouge Donaldsonville Reserve New Orleans OHIO Cairo COMITE Near Olive AMITE Near Darlington Denham Springs Port Vincent TICKFAW Montpelier Holden ATCHAFALAYA Simmesport Melville Krotz Springs Butte La Rose Bayou Sorrel Morgan City

FLOOD STAGE

34 48 48 35 27 22 17

WED. 24-HOUR STAGE CHANGE

19.90 38.70 40.20 23.50 14.50 10.33 6.70

-0.21 +0.83 +1.00 +1.30 +1.10 +0.70 +0.50

40

35.54

+0.02

19

-1.20

+0.18

18 29 8

-0.26 11.73 1.99

-0.06 -0.03 +0.13

13 15

2.04 2.12

+0.07 +0.49

47 34 29 20 12 6

19.74 14.30 12.38 9.70 5.70 3.37

+0.83 +0.52 +0.58 +0.37 -0.20 +0.11

data as of 7 a.m. Wednesday

Forecasts and graphics, except for Damon’s Outlook, provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2026

Latest Mangione hearing Poland, Lithuania confirm shrouded in secrecy exploring nuclear deterrence Judge shuts out interested in potentially hosting NATO would be too provocative Countries are bases for U.S. dual-capable air- for Russia, Artur Kacprzyk, a nuwhich can carry either con- clear deterrence analyst with the considering larger role craft, Polish Institute of International ventional or nuclear warheads. in NATO’s efforts The Pentagon declined to com- Affairs in Warsaw, told the AP.

ment, but a Defense Department official said the U.S. and NATO

BY CLAUDIA CIOBANU, SAM MCNEIL and KONSTANTIN TOROPIN “continuously assess the security environment” and work to keep Associated Press effective deterrents. The official WARSAW,Poland — Poland and Lithu- was not authorized to comment ania confirm they are participating publicly and spoke on condition of in discussions about their potential anonymity. role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence efforts, which are built around Nuclear weapons in Europe U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe.

The United States has stationed While talks are in early stages, nuclear weapons in several Euroexpanding U.S. nuclear deterrence pean countries for decades as part in Europe could reassure continen- of its security guarantees to NATO tal allies of continued U.S. military allies.

In recent years, Russia’s war support at a time when President Donald Trump has led an effort to against Ukraine and the broader reduce his country’s conventional threat Moscow poses to NATO have prompted discussions about the defense involvement in Europe.

“We are talking, in order to cre- possibility of expanding the U.S. ate better conditions for nuclear nuclear cooperation with Europe.

“Work to assess and potentially deterrence and for Poland to play an important role in that,” Polish adapt NATO’s nuclear deterrence Deputy Defense Minister Paweł posture has been ongoing for Zalewski told Polish Radio on several years and is not linked to any decision taken by the U.S. to Wednesday.

Poland, however, has denied any adjust its conventional posture in plans to host nuclear weapons. Europe,” an official tasked with That would be “an extremely se- communicating for NATO but not rious matter, which is serious in authorized to be publicly named terms of political consequences,” told the AP. The NATO nuclear sharing he said.

“Discussions are indeed taking program includes U.S. nuclear place. I do not want to go into de- weapons deployed in Belgium, tails at this point as they are clas- Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, sified, but discussions are ongo- Turkey and Britain, as well as dualing, and Lithuania is certainly not capable aircraft owned by both the standing on the sidelines,” Lithu- U.S. and its allies. The U.S. mainanian Defense Minister Robertas tains full control over the nuclear Kaunas said Tuesday, according to weapons. press agency BNS. Poland has expressed its willBoth ministers were replying ingness to participate in the U.S. after anonymous sources cited nuclear deterrence program since Tuesday by the Financial Times the start of Russia’s full-scale invasaid the United States had signaled sion of Ukraine in 2022, with foropenness to deploying elements of mer president Andrzej Duda even its nuclear arsenal in new Europe- welcoming the hosting of nuclear an countries, in addition to the six weapons. The current government currently thought to host nuclear led by Donald Tusk has been more cautious, speaking only about a weapons.

The FT reported that Poland and bigger role in nuclear deterrence.

The U.S., however, has repeatthe Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the NATO members edly indicated that placing nuclelocated closest to Ukraine, were ar weapons in eastern countries of

“There might be a middle ground there, which could be called ‘nuclear sharing light’. You would have, for example, Polish planes, certified for carrying U.S. nuclear weapons, but the weapons won’t be deployed in Poland. This aircraft from the east could be a sort of backup if, let’s say, German or Dutch aircraft are destroyed before they can use those nuclear weapons.”

Efforts are complementary Earlier this year, Poland said it would be one of several European countries to join France’s initiative of coordinating its nuclear deterrence efforts with European allies.

France has been the only nuclear power in the European Union since Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2020.

The French-initiated cooperation is “complementary” to the U.S. deterrence, Kacprzyk said, but it has a different nature.

Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark and Norway also have said they were interested in the French initiative, which allows for the temporary deployment of France’s nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries. It also allows partners to participate in France’s deterrence exercises and allows allies’ non-nuclear forces to participate in France’s nuclear activities.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz told Polish broadcaster TVP on Tuesday that nuclear deterrence would be discussed during a NATO meeting in Brussels on June 18. He said both the French initiative and the U.S. program are part of those efforts.

Increasing nuclear cooperation in Europe might help the U.S. offset conventional reductions but it cannot fully substitute the forward presence of conventional troops, especially in countries bordering Russia, Kacprzyk said.

press and public

BY MICHAEL R. SISAK Associated Press

NEW YORK — A hearing in Luigi Mangione ’s state murder case in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was held in secret Wednesday after the judge shut out the press and public without explanation.

New York Judge Gregory Carro said he sealed the virtual proceeding at the request of the defense but provided no other details, raising questions about transparency in the closely watched case.

Court hearings in the U.S. are presumptively open to the public, but judges are permitted to close them in certain circumstances, such as to protect sensitive or confidential information.

Carro held the hearing in his chambers at the Manhattan courthouse where Mangione is set to go to trial on Sept. 8. Mangione, his lawyers and prosecutors all appeared via video conference.

A lawyer representing news organizations sent a letter to Carro asking his reasons for sealing the hearing but was ignored by the judge and rebuffed by his staff.

When the lawyer, Jeremy Chase, called Carro’s chambers Wednesday morning, he said the judge’s clerk told him: “We don’t read emails or letters at night. We go home.” She then hung up on him, he said in an email to news organizations obtained by The Associated Press.

After Wednesday’s hearing, Carro returned to the courtroom and announced it’s “sealed at the moment.” He scheduled an in-person hearing for June 16. That one, he said, will be open to the public.

Spokespeople for Mangione’s defense team and for the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment. A message seeking comment was left for a spokesperson for New York’s

state court system.

Laura Italiano, a veteran New York City courts reporter who was in Carro’s courtroom on Wednesday, said this is the third time in six months that the judge and court staff have silenced or ignored journalists seeking access to evidence or proceedings in Mangione’s case.

At a pretrial hearing in December, court officers ejected a reporter from the courtroom after she tried objecting to Carro’s decision to seal certain evidence. In February, Carro held a 27-minute, off-the-record bench conference during an otherwise public hearing. Reporters emailed the judge to no avail and asked a court officer to relay a note to him, but the officer refused.

“We’re seeing serious transparency problems and the trial hasn’t even begun,” Italiano said.

“There’s huge public interest in this case and the judge is carrying on as if that were not the case.”

Carro scheduled Wednesday’s hearing at the end of Mangione’s last court appearance on May 18.

After meeting briefly with prosecutors and Mangione’s lawyers at the bench at that prior proceeding, Carro said he’d hold a virtual hearing to discuss scheduling and jury selection issues. He gave no indication that it would be sealed, nor has anyone said how, why or when Mangione’s lawyers asked for it to be.

Typically when virtual hearings are scheduled in New York courts, the press and public are able to follow along by watching on TV monitors in the judge’s courtroom. When a party requests that a proceeding be sealed, a judge will often solicit input from the other side and allow third parties, such as the public and news media, to also provide input.

An AP reporter emailed Carro directly on Tuesday, asking him to share, even broadly, his reasoning for sealing Wednesday’s hearing, and whether a transcript or recording would be provided.

The judge didn’t respond and, instead, forwarded the email to the court’s press office.

METRO

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

|

T h u r s d ay, J u n e 4, 2026

1Bn

Retail center may get additional tax Money would fund infrastructure improvements for site

BY JOEL THOMPSON

ping center at 1102 Admiral Doyle Drive.

The shopping center, owned by The city of New Iberia will hold RockStep Capital, houses national a public meeting June 16 to discuss chains such as TJ Maxx, Aldi and the creation of a new Economic Petsmart, among others. AccordDevelopment District to be located ing to New Iberia Mayor Freddie at the Lagniappe Village shop- Decourt, the developer reached

Staff writer

out to request the district in order to help cover infrastructure improvements for the parking lot. The ordinance that creates the district would also implement a 1-cent sales tax on all purchases in the district.

DeCourt says the purpose of the tax will be to refund the developer

for an initial investment into improvements for the facility’s infrastructure.

“The city keeps none of this money. This goes to pay the developer back for their investment,” DeCourt said. “Much like the other developments and investments the city has been attracting, it comes with some incentives. Our median income is lower than some sur-

rounding communities, so without these incentives businesses don’t come.”

The 1-cent sales tax will be applied only to sales within the shopping center itself, not citywide, a fact that city officials argue is important for consumers concerned about additional costs.

ä See TAX, page 4B

BRICK BY BRICK

TOP: Workers with Menard Masonry install bricks on the front of a Vermilion Street building in downtown Lafayette on May 28. Once completed, the space will be leased by the Downtown Development Authority. LEFT: Jake Menard catches a pair of bricks tossed up to him as he and workers install bricks on the front the building.

ABOVE RIGHT: Evril Menard places the final brick in the wall on May 28.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRAD BOWIE

Police: Carjacking suspect fires shots, flees and crashes The Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations said in a news release that a Eunice police officer shot one person during a Wednesday morning incident that ended in Crowley.

The Eunice PoCRIME lice Department, before 9 a.m., BLOTTER just asked State Police Advocate to investigate the staff officer-involved reports shooting near the intersection of La. 13 and Oddfellows Road in Crowley.

One person who was shot was transported to a hospital for treatment. No officers were injured.

According to police, the incident began in Eunice, where the suspect

ä See BLOTTER, page 4B

Former guard accused in teen sex case Lawsuit alleges youth compelled to engage in sex acts

detainee into having sex with her and using disciplinary “writeups” to keep him from being released.

Keyana Nash, who worked as a juvenile justice specialist at the Acadiana Center for Youth in

BY QUINN COFFMAN Bunkie, has been sued alongside Staff writer the Office of Juvenile Justice and A former employee of the Of- the state of Louisiana by the teenfice of Juvenile Justice has been ager she allegedly assaulted. accused of coercing a teenage The lawsuit, filed May 27, paints

Nash as abusive and accused her of using physical beatings, mace, disciplinary write-ups and intimidation to compel an 18-year-old detainee to engage in sex acts with her multiple times over a period of months.

Nash “took a sexual interest” around February 2025, the suit says, with the alleged abuse continuing through May 2025. The victim, who turned 18 prior to

Nash’s advances, was coerced into having sex with her five times during that period.

The detainee said the rapes took place in an area inside the Center for Youth known as “the cut,” which was located in the “bulldog” dorm of the building.

The victim claims to have been made to sit next to Nash, to grope

ä See LAWSUIT, page 4B

After nationwide search, LSU names new leader Messina to be provost, senior vice chancellor

continue building upon begins on Aug. 3, Messina that momentum.” will serve as chief acaMessina has served demic officer, responsible since 2019 as dean of the for academic affairs, facJ. Frank Barefield College ulty development, student of Arts and Sciences at achievement, research Alabama. Before joining partnerships and strategic

BY ELLYN COUVILLION Alabama, Messina spent initiatives, LSU said in a Staff writer nearly 20 years at Michinews release Wednesday. Messina “LSU is one of the counAfter a nationwide search, LSU gan State University in has named Joseph Messina, cur- try’s great flagship institutions, various leadership roles.

Messina is the second of two rerently a dean at the University of and the opportunities ahead are Alabama, as its next senior vice extraordinary,” Messina said in cent LSU hires from the Universithe statement. “I am honored to ty of Alabama, the first being Jim chancellor and provost.

In his new role at LSU, which join the LSU community, as we Dalton, who was named LSU’s new

chancellor in November.

Messina earned a doctorate in geography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master’s in geographic and cartographic sciences and a bachelor’s in biology, both from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Troy Blanchard, who served as interim senior vice chancellor and provost, will be returning to his role as the dean of humanities and social sciences, an LSU spokesman said.

2B ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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OPINION T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/opinions

OUR VIEWS

On this D-Day anniversary, we honor the heroes who fought to preserve freedom Editor’s note: This editorial, slightly revised, is published annually as a tribute to D-Day. When the United States put its young men ashore on D-Day 82 years ago Saturday, they were not alone.

Although Americans remember Omaha Beach, where our troops saw some of the bloodiest fighting and suffered many casualties, young men from at least a dozen other countries fought and died on other beaches — all in the common cause of freedom.

By late spring 1944, after years of combat and human sacrifice, the tide had begun to turn against Adolf Hitler’s Germany. Even as the risks of the D-Day invasion weighed heavily on Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, who drafted — just in case — a statement of responsibility for failure, victory in Europe was finally in sight. Yet, many more died before it finally came.

The hammer blows landed against the Reich on D-Day made up history’s largest amphibious operation. The United States, Great Britain and Canada provided most of the troops, but they were joined by forces from every Allied nation that had suffered during the war: Australia, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Poland.

Their heroic campaign is memorialized at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. Now a sprawling campus that has welcomed more than 10 million visitors since it opened in 2000, it began life as the National D-Day Museum, dedicated to telling the stories of those who answered history’s call that stormy June morning so far from home.

Louisiana is honored to host those who pass through its doors, especially the members of our country’s Greatest Generation who served.

Today, as always, a grateful nation honors their struggles and sacrifices.

We also remember the dramatic innovations that sprang from America’s arsenals of democracy, particularly Louisiana’s shallow-draft Higgins boats, which made possible the D-Day landings and those in the Pacific.

Perhaps the most enduring outcome of World War II, one embodied in the planning and execution of D-Day, is America’s role as a world leader. The late University of New Orleans historian Stephen Ambrose, who conceived the World War II Museum, said that the defining quality of Americans is our sense of optimism. It’s what enables us to lead with hope, strength and a determination to meet any challenge.

Those qualities may seem sadly lacking today. But by commemorating sacrifice made by thousands of young men who piled out of boats and onto beaches in service of a greater cause, we honor their heroism and remind ourselves of the courage that freedom demands. Now, just like then, we must not forget that challenges far from our borders can have profound effects here at home.

As it did on D-Day, meeting those challenges will require the best from all of us.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published

identifying name, occupation and/or title and the writer’s city of residence.

The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@ theadvocate.com.

YOUR VIEWS

Ratepayers deserve stronger protections

Loving fathers teach you lessons you may not realize If you grew up when I did, you probably had to hold the light. I learned so much from my daddy by holding the light. “Daddy, can I help? Can I hold the light? Please Daddy, let me hold the light.” I would plead with big brown eyes. “Ok, go get the light.” I learned the power of persuasion.

He would get the light and the tools.

In my eyes, there was nothing that man couldn’t fix. We had socket wrenches, crescent wrenches, needle nose pliers — you name it. “Daddy, do we need this?” “No, put that back.” “Daddy, do we need this?” “No, put that back.” I learned to use the right tools.

About half a second into holding the light, I was done. “On my God, why did I ever want to hold the light? Why? This is so boring. Are we done yet?” The thing about holding the light is, once you’re holding it, there is no going back,

and the job will last forever. I learned commitment, endurance and patience.

When you hold the light, it was to be in an exact spot. “A little higher up. A little to the left, hold still.” I learned to hold my position.

“Get your head out of the way.” When you hold the light, you want to see what is going on. What’s he doing? Is it going to work? Let me get a little closer.

“Move your head.” The one holding the light is not the one who gets to see. I learned I could not always be in charge and to trust the process even if I could not see it.

As I got older, I realized that he didn’t need me to hold the light, he just wanted to spend time with me. The lessons were a bonus. I love you, Daddy, and thanks for letting me hold the light.

My electric bill keeps climbing, and no one can clearly explain why.

Each month I open my utility statement expecting stability, but instead I see another increase that strains my household budget. What’s most frustrating is the feeling that everyday families like mine have little say in the decisions driving these costs.

Recent utility proposals and largescale energy projects raise serious questions about who is ultimately paying for infrastructure upgrades. When massive new developments are added to the grid, the cost should not automatically fall on ordinary customers who are already struggling with high bills and unreliable service.

I am calling for stronger protections for ratepayers before any major utility expansion or fast-tracked approval is granted. Regulators should require full transparency about cost distribution and ensure that large commercial energy users pay their fair share, rather than shifting expenses onto residential customers.

We also need independent review of any proposals that could significantly increase demand on the power grid.

Communities deserve clear answers, not rushed decisions that prioritize corporate interests over household affordability.

No family should have to choose between paying their electric bill and meeting other basic needs. It is time for utility regulators and policymakers to put fairness, accountability and transparency first.

TRACIE ELSWORTH Denham Springs

Utility pricing makes no sense

Access to affordable electricity and gas is becoming one of the biggest concerns for many households today.

Families are working hard, budgeting carefully and still finding it difficult to keep up with rising energy costs.

Energy is not something people can simply live without. Families rely on electricity for lighting, cooking, preserving food, medical equipment, internet access and staying safe during severe weather conditions. When bills become too expensive, the emotional and financial stress on households becomes overwhelming.

There needs to be more accountability and transparency regarding utility

pricing. Residents deserve to understand why rates continue to increase and what is being done to support consumers during difficult times.

State and local leaders should work together with utility providers to create long-term solutions that protect residents from excessive financial pressure. Assistance programs, energy efficiency education and fairer rate structures could make a meaningful difference for thousands of people.

Every family deserves the dignity of living in a safe and powered home without constant fear of financial hardship.

LAUREEN DOUGLAS New Orleans

MENSAH CLAND New Orleans

Time for Black athletes to take a stand

Republican offerings to voters just as comical TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

In response to your editorial cartoon by Lisa Benson published on May 26, the following should be run as the Republican ballot 2026, also showing an angry mainstream American voter.

1. Significant inflation in the cost of gas, groceries and services 2. “Rich America First” agenda 3. Tax cuts for the wealthiest 4. Reduced health care for the middle class and poor 5. Unlimited campaign funds from the billionaires and corporations

Black athletes should refuse to take the field at LSU, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and any predominately White school in this state and any other Southern state that is attempting to silence the Black voter.

Don’t worry about money, you cannot miss something that you never had. And don’t believe that you cannot reach the NFL or MLB, NBA from a Grambling, Southern, or Jackson State. If you got talent, they will find you.

6. Disregard the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law 7. Destruction of the U.S. Department of Justice 8. Destruction of one man/one vote principle by dilution of minority voting rights 9. Abandoning/threatening our traditional allies 10. An unnecessary war in the Middle East without consultation of Congress or the American people.

FRANK W. DAWKINS Lafayette

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ARNESSA GARRETT STEPHANIE GRACE WILL SUTTON QUIN HILLYER FAIMON ROBERTS

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● 3B

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COMMENTARY Sensible La. district lines would benefit neither race or party Amidst the racially charged arguments surrounding Louisiana’s congressional districts, the reality is that the population distribution within Louisiana isn’t naturally conducive to either political side’s fondest wishes.

It’s virtually impossible to create a second Blackmajority district without major gerrymandering that violates traditional districting standards.

Then again, a neutral apQuin plication of those same Hillyer standards naturally would produce a second district in which a Democrat, including a moderately liberal Black candidate, would be slightly favored to win.

One can reach this conclusion using race-blind principles along with parish population numbers readily available online. The point of this exercise wasn’t arithmetical exactitude but instead to get within a few thousand people in each district of the average Louisiana congressional district size of 777,000 residents.

Admittedly, I saved hours of research time by using Chat GPT and Wikipedia for searches and arithmetic, while crosschecking their numbers against each other — and again, the principles, not exact numbers, are the point here.

With those caveats, here’s what I found, using the court-recognized districting principles of compactness, contiguity and existing parish lines or obvious geographical features such as rivers or lakes. In ordinary language, this means the maps should keep parishes whole to the greatest extent possible, while each district should appear as reasonably concentric shapes.

Without racial gerrymandering, the lower part of Louisiana’s toe — the parishes of Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lafourche and the West Bank of Jefferson, with slivers from Terrebonne and St. Charles — naturally creates not a Black majority district, but at least a Black plurality one that, when combined with Hispanic voters, forms a non-White majority. Also considering the voting patterns of tens of thousands of liberal White Democrats in New Orleans, an overwhelming likelihood is that a Black Democrat would win.

The top of the toe, surrounding most of Lake Pontchartrain, would be, as now, a strongly Republican district consisting of the parishes of St. Tammany, Washington, Tangipahoa, St. John the Baptist and

STAFF PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS

Sen. Jay Morris, R-West Monroe, holds up a proposed congressional map during a House and Governmental Affairs Committee meeting on May 21. most of St. Charles, plus East Jefferson.

Along and inland from the southcentral coast, the “Cajun parishes” easily form another Republican-leaning district. The western portion of the state from the Gulf to the Arkansas line, roughly a slightly bulbous rectangle including both Lake Charles and Shreveport, forms another such district — but with a significant Black population in Caddo Parish. Alas, the numbers mean that one major parish can’t stay intact, so Rapides, in the middle of the state, does get bisected.

The fifth of my districts is largely rural, so naturally it encompasses by far the largest amount of territory. Apart from the cities of Monroe and Ruston, it essentially takes in every non-Cajun, non-major-urban parish in the state, plus half of the Florida Parishes — the Felicianas, St. Helena and Livingston. (The tiny Florida Parishes jut is unfortunate, but necessary for the numbers to work.)

That would leave one more district that would be hotly contested. Not perfectly concentric, it nonetheless is far more compact and geographically sensible than the crazy-quilt District 2 the Legislature actually produced. In essence, it’s a Mississippi River district, plus some borderline Cajun parishes. It would include both East and West Baton Rouge parishes, along with Avoyelles, Point Coupee, Iberville, Ascension, Assumption and St. James.

For those from either side who obsess about race or partisan advantage, this district would cause nervous nights. By

my wiki-aided count (again, the general trend, not the exact numbers, are what’s important), the district would have roughly 360,000 White voters, 303,000 Black voters and just over 100,000 of “other” or “mixed” races, with Hispanics clearly predominating among those.

Plus, a significant percentage of the Whites would be Democrats.

Meanwhile, some of us insist, with significant evidence, that race is not entirely determinative of political victory.

Witness Mobile, Alabama, which for six consecutive elections chose a member of the then-minority race as its mayor — twice electing a Black Democrat when the city was majority White, then four times picking a White Republican after the city had become majority Black.

The “river district” above would almost assuredly mimic Mobile’s experience, in which successful coalitionbuilding is rewarded. That’s a situation that is fair, one that inspires confidence in the system.

The broader point: A neutral computer programmed for compactness, contiguity, parish lines and geographical features would produce something similar to the plan above, without any racial or partisan thumb on the scales.

For a healthy representative democracy, one in which no group thinks the game is rigged against them, that’s the sort of approach legislators henceforth should take.

Email Quin Hillyer at quin.hillyer@ theadvocate.com

Chronic pilot shortages, ancient planes — Air Force needs upgrading U.S. Air Force B-52s have been busy in the war against Iran, as they were in Vietnam, and when they were crucial Cold War components of the nation’s nuclear triad of air, land and sea-based deterrence.

Wars are mostly fought by young people, but today, geriatric machines participate in the wild blue yonder.

George Of the 76 extant B-52s, Will the youngest was built in 1962, before the Beatles’ first album and the Cuban missile crisis.

According to Joseph Trevithick of the War Zone, a defense news and analysis website, current planning envisions these heavy bombers in service until 2050, when the youngest will be 88 and will have outlasted today’s B-1s and B-2s.

The B-52s have undergone many upgrades and are now in a modernization program: new engines and avionics. But as Trevithick writes, “At some point, the airframes will simply age out.”

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula, now dean of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, writes in Forbes “the bulk of our Air Force” — 10 aircraft types, more than 2,600 aircraft, twothirds of the entire force — “consists of geriatric fighter, bomber and trainer aircraft that were designed and built before the internet was invented,” having had their first flights more than 50 years ago.

Former defense secretary Robert Gates, one of our wisest national security thinkers, was imprecise when in 2024 he lamented that “our Air Force has stagnated in size.” The situation is worse than that. Since Operation Desert Storm (1991), the number of fighter squadrons

has declined from 134 to 56, the number of fighter pilot flight hours per month has declined from 22.3 to under 10, and the average age of fighter planes has increased from 9.7 years to 30.3 years.

What the Air Force calls its “advanced” trainer first flew in 1959 — the Eisenhower administration.

The Iran war has highlighted the weakness of the nation’s defense industrial base and the precarious condition of its munitions stocks. The American Enterprise Institute’s Mackenzie Eaglen, writing in the Dispatch, reports that U.S. forces expended more than 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles in a few weeks.

Because average annual production has been 90 to 100, she says, “absent acceleration, replenishing this key armament … would take roughly 10 years.”

Our adversaries in Beijing and Moscow know this, and know the production of sophisticated weapons cannot easily be surged. Readers of the 2024 report by the U.S. Commission on the National Defense Strategy know that today’s threats are the most serious “since 1945 and include the potential for near-term major war.” Deptula notes that the Air Force is older, smaller and less ready to deter or win a major war than at any time since it became an independent service in 1947.

The pilot shortage is now chronic. Today the game is more than 2,000 short of requirements. The Mitchell Institute’s Heather R. Penney writes that the Air Force “has been unsuccessful in meaningfully improving its pilot retention rates for over twenty years.” To those who say unmanned systems are radically reducing the importance of pilots, she says: “Algorithms and software, no matter how sophisticated, cannot replace

the creativity, initiative, and judgment to decide and act through the fog and friction of war that only human cognition at the forward edge of the battlespace can provide.”

The war to defang Iran has been a reminder that there are things, such as regime change, that airpower alone cannot accomplish. But consider what airpower has done to implement the U.S. political objective of reducing that regime’s capacity for projecting threats against other nations.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War notes that U.S. and Israeli operations achieved air dominance over Iran in 72 hours, partly because of Israeli attacks on Iran’s air defense radars in April and October 2024. And the Iranian missile force is much more than missiles and launchers. It is crews, communications and computer networks, production and logistical facilities. Airpower has struck one of the few ball bearing plants (crucial for ballistic missile guidance systems), at least 69 facilities associated with the production of missiles, warheads and explosives, and at least 11 research and development facilities.

Rebuilding its production chain will take many years. All this without “boots on the ground.”

Most developed democracies contentedly assume perpetual peace, and are ever more casualty-averse. That this social-political fact converges with myriad military facts (the force structures of China and Russia) adds urgency onto making U.S. airpower again adequate for its many missions.

Email George Will at georgewill@ washpost.com.

Does it matter what Helen of Troy looked like?

It’s the controversy that has launched a thousand X posts.

Elon Musk, who is a fan of Homer, has kicked up a fuss by objecting to filmmaker Christopher Nolan casting the Black actress Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy in his forthcoming movie version of “The Odyssey.”

The epic production presumably won’t rise or fall based on its depiction of Helen, the legRich endary beauty who precipitated Lowry the Trojan War. That conflict is portrayed in “The Iliad,” while “The Odyssey” follows the Greek warrior Odysseus on his return home after the war, a story that doesn’t feature Helen prominently.

The casting of Nyong’o, though, has raised the perennial question of what Helen looked like, as well as the more pedestrian matter of what the standard should be for actors playing people of a different race or ethnicity (or, these days, gender).

Helen was a Spartan woman, married to Menelaus, the king of Sparta. When she left him for Paris of Troy, it started the long battle between the Greeks and Trojans.

Everyone who saw her instantly understood why a yearslong war over her was worth it: “No wonder the Trojans and well-greaved Achaeans have suffered long for such a woman — she is terribly like an immortal goddess to look at.”

The genius of Homer’s description of Helen is that he leaves it vague, and therefore up to the imagination. We know, though, that she wasn’t black.

The co-host of “The View” Sunny Hostin slammed all the critics of the choice of Nyong’o as ignoramuses for not realizing that Africa was supposedly the source of Ancient Greece. In so doing, she relied on a discredited book called “Black Athena” that maintained that ancient Sparta and Phoenicia colonized Ancient Greece. There is no evidence for this whatsoever — one scholarly critic compared its highly politicized claims to “the Aryan science of the Third Reich or the Lysenkoite genetics of Stalinist Russia.”

Ancient Greece was Indo-European in origin; people who lived in the area back then looked, by and large, like people who live there now.

Homer says that Helen was “white-armed,” suggesting that she was fair-skinned, and other ancient sources can be interpreted as saying that she had light hair and blue eyes, although there’s debate about this.

Certainly, depictions on film have favored this interpretation. The 2004 movie “Troy” cast the gorgeous, blonde-haired, blue-eyed German actress Diane Kruger as Helen.

All that said, what the role most requires is luminous beauty, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with casting actors in roles that don’t match their ethnicity. Macbeth wasn’t African American, but Denzel Washington played him compellingly in a movie version.

The problem is that such casting decisions can be distracting, or even parodic. The Churchill movie “Darkest Hour” had the wartime prime minister taking a random trip on the London Underground and getting a pep talk from a black laborer. Why insult everyone’s intelligence with this kind of pandering?

Also, there should be a uniform standard.

Whenever a white actor or actress is cast in another ethnic role it is condemned as “whitewashing.” There was a furor when Scarlett Johansson played Motoko Kusanagi in the movie version of the Japanese manga series “Ghost in the Shell,” even though the character is a cyborg. Johansson had to back out of another project where she was cast as a trans man despite herself being a cis woman.

A headline in Allure magazine at the time read, “Scarlett Johansson Is Facing Major Backlash for Saying She ‘Should Be Allowed to Play’ Anyone.”

What’s good for Lupita Nyong’o should be good for Scarlett Johansson, and vice versa.

But Hollywood wants to put its finger on the scale; it has preposterous, bean-counting standards for what films can be considered for Oscars based on the inclusion of “underrepresented groups” on screen and in other ways.

If Nolan has done his job, this controversy will be overwhelmed by the power of Homer’s work, perhaps the second greatest story ever told.

Rich Lowry is on X @RichLowry.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ARE WELCOME. HERE ARE OUR GUIDELINES: Letters are published identifying name, occupation and/or title and the

writer’s city of residence. The Advocate | The Times-Picayune require a street address and phone number for verification purposes, but that information is not published. Letters are not to exceed 300 words. Letters to the Editor, The Advocate, P.O. Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-0588, or email letters@theadvocate.com.

TO SEND US A LETTER, SCAN HERE

4B ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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Pro hockey will stay in Baton Rouge Team will have new owners

BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer

About a month after the future of professional hockey locally darkened when the Baton Rouge Zydeco team president and owner left the organization, Mayor-President Sid Edwards and officials with the Raising Cane’s River Center announced the team will remain under new ownership.

At a news conference Wednesday, it was announced that the owners of the Binghamton (New York) Black Bears will take over control of the team.

The Black Bears have won the last three championships of the Federal Prospect Hockey League, the same league the Zydeco compete in.

The ownership group will include Jacob Hector, a Baton Rouge native who owns Tiger Nutrition, Happy Scoops Ice Cream Parlor and Badger Mechanical, and Binghamton owners Matt Pace, Andreas Johans-

LAWSUIT

Continued from page 1B her and to sexually pleasure her numerous times in both the “day area” and the bathroom of the Center for Youth.

Nash is accused of telling the teenager at one point: “You’re not going home if you don’t come in the cut and have sex,” according to the suit.

The suit also says Nash purposefully schemed to keep the teenager in custody at the Center for Youth in order to continue her abuse.

She allegedly carried this out by repeatedly disciplining the victim with “write-

TAX

Continued from page 1B “People will ultimately have a choice of whether or not they shop there,” said council member Ricky Gonsoulin. “It’s not every business in New Iberia that’s going to have this.”

DeCourt says the district will increase the city’s sales tax revenue, give residents more opportunities to do

BLOTTER

Continued from page 1B in an alleged carjacking reportedly fired shots at law enforcement. Authorities also said an additional crash occurred on La. 13 as a result of the incident.

Preliminary information indicates the suspect vehicle may be connected to the alleged Eunice carjacking before entering Crowley.

Police confirmed that the occupants of the second vehicle involved in the Crowley crash, which was not connected to the carjacking, sustained minor injuries.

Officials say updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Two teens arrested in murder investigation Two more people have been arrested in connection with the death of a Lafayette Parish teen.

Markayla Angelle, 19, and Zarious Morrison, 18, were arrested Monday night by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office on seconddegree murder charges in connection with the fatal shooting.

The shooting occurred just after 1:30 p.m. April 19 in the 100 block of Sweetbriar Street, where deputies found a 17-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a hospital in critical condition.

Authorities confirmed on

son and Ted Goldthorpe.

River Center general manager Wayne Hodes said after the Zydeco folded — which was a mutual agreement — he engaged in negotiations with many teams and leagues to continue hockey in Baton Rouge, prioritizing obtaining a new owner, management and brand. The new hockey team will have a three-year lease at the River Center, with a requirement to sell an average of 3,000 tickets per game after the first season. If the team does not meet the threshold, the River Center can cancel the lease, Hodes said.

“Yesterday, we came in, we signed our agreement, so now they’re going to move forward with full force,” Hodes said.

The new team will play in the 2026-27 hockey season, creating a tight timeline for the owners to whip the organization into shape.

The group will retain the Zydeco roster but will participate in a draft.

Pace said the new ownership group will work on earning the trust of the Baton Rouge community

by engaging with fans and partnering with local businesses. He said the group became interested in investing in Baton Rouge hockey due to the region’s ability to “rally behind its winners.”

“While we are the ownership of this team on paper, this isn’t our team,” Pace said. “It’s your team. This is Baton Rouge’s team.”

There has been speculation the team will be rebranded as the Baton Rouge Kingfish, but Hodes and Edwards said they would announce the name of the team in the coming weeks, along with providing a schedule and ticket information. Whether there will be public input in the naming process will be determined by the new owners, Hodes said.

In advance of Wednesday’s news conference, the local hockey team’s official Facebook fan page was renamed the Official Baton Rouge Kingfish Fan Group on Tuesday. YouTuber Fed East Flash, who covers the FPHL, said the Kingfish will return under a new ownership group at the River

ups” that could endanger his release date.

Nash would also use mace and beat up the victim and other incarcerated juveniles, the suit says. She kept up communication with the victim both in person and on jail phone calls while she was off, the detainee said.

The victim attempted multiple times to make authorities aware of the abuse he was experiencing, the suit claims, noting that the teen had called the Prison Rape Elimination Act hotline multiple times to no avail.

The Acadiana Center for Youth is accused of then removing Prison Rape Elimination Act informational signs, which itself violates the act.

The victim recorded the abuse in a journal, which was seized by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office during its investigation.

Only after the teen and his mother spoke with his youth counselor were they able to make Judge Adam Haney of the East Baton Rouge Juvenile Court aware of the abuse during a court hearing on May 29, 2025, for a different matter, the filing says.

Nash was arrested that same month and booked on a count of malfeasance in office — sexual conduct.

The civil suit filed against her last week seeks damages greater than $10,000, alleging sexual battery, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

shopping in the community, and create additional economic opportunities within the city, a sentiment that Gonsoulin concurred with.

“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here. This is done all over the state and nation to try and attract businesses,” said Gonsoulin.

“There’s some naysayers out there who say we’re taxing them to death. We’re not.

We’re creating an environment and a quality of life for people to raise their families.

That costs money.”

Additionally, since the district does not have residents within the boundaries, voter approval is not required. Local residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions on the district’s creation during the June 16 council meeting.

Both the procedural resolution and the ordinance allowing for the creation of the district passed with unanimous approval from the council.

April 21 that Wykiel Provost, 17, of Lafayette and an Acadiana High student, died from his injuries.

Keenan Charles, 17, was previously booked on May 26 into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center in connection with the case.

The investigation remains ongoing.

es the same charges: firstdegree murder, attempted first-degree murder, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and assault by drive-by shooting.

Police said surveillance footage helped establish the suspects’ movements and identities before the shooting. Detectives also worked closely with the United States Marshals Service to locate the suspects named in the warrants.

Through a coordinated multiagency effort, both men were located and taken into custody in separate jurisdictions.

Investigators said they have found no evidence indicating the shooting was part of any organized conflict targeting the city of Opelousas. Based on evidence gathered thus far, authorities believe the incident stemmed from a dispute involving people connected to the case and was not directed at the community at large.

Two arrested in Opelousas shooting Two suspects have been arrested in connection with a shooting that left one person dead and another seriously injured in Opelousas.

The shooting occurred May 26 in the 400 block of West Bellevue Street. The victim who died was identified as 24-year-old Dontre Williams, of Lafayette. A second victim sustained serious injuries.

According to the Opelousas Police Department, investigators quickly identified suspects through witness interviews, surveillance footage, forensic analysis, evidence collection and other investigative efforts. Detectives developed sufficient evidence to identify the suspects and obtain arrest warrants less than 24 hours after the shooting.

Ronnie Jean Jr. was booked on counts of firstdegree murder, attempted first-degree murder, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and assault by drive-by shooting.

Diovanni Lafountain fac-

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TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2026 PICK 3: 9-5-9 PICK 4: 7-9-0-0 PICK 5: 0-0-8-0-8 MEGA MILLIONS: 15-26-43-48-60 MEGA BALL: 12 Unofficial notification, keep your tickets.

Center in a video posted Wednesday.

The Kingfish played in Baton Rouge in the late ’90s and early 2000s before moving to Victoria, Canada.

Minor league hockey got a revival in the capital region three years ago when the Zydeco came to town.

The team came to Baton Rouge in part thanks to a sizable investment from the administration of thenMayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and the Metro Council. Edwards said he’s interested in helping the new team.

“We’ve tightened our belts in the city-parish, but I am committed, and I’ll speak for our council as well. Whatever help and assistance this new organization needs, we certainly want to work with them,” Edwards said.

Hector grew up watching the Kingfish, he said, and will serve as a local voice on the ownership team, making up for the struggles of the Zydeco. He attributes part of the Zydeco’s demise to previous owners not owning up to their faults and said the new owners will

Nash’s position was considered a “guard” under Louisiana law and is thus not allowed to have sex with inmates, the suit argues.

“Defendant Keyana Nash’s acts are the exact acts PREA (the Prison Rape Elimination Act) sought to prevent,” the suit reads. “The imbalance of power prohibits any offender, much less a youthful offender, to consent to sexual acts while incarcerated.”

Nash’s case isn’t isolated either, the suit claims. Another guard, Khy Winbush, was arrested around the same time as Nash and accused of having sex with juvenile inmates at the Acadiana Center for Youth.

In August, guard Regina

emphasize communication with fans and local businesses.

“A lot of people were mistreated, and I don’t want to go in too much on that in detail, but we’re very excited to change the narrative,” Hector said.

In the first season of operations, the Zydeco broke the league record for season attendance with more than 110,000 fans showing up for games, raking in $8.1 million in economic impact for the city.

But the team saw attendance drop in subsequent seasons. In the most recent season, just under 61,500 fans showed up for games, which caused the Zydeco to rank eighth in attendance out of the FPHL’s 14 teams. The team finished in second-to-last place in their division, ending up with 17 wins and 39 losses.

Success on the ice is just one component to a successful team, Johansson said.

Fan engagement is crucial to the organization, and he feels confident about rebuilding the trust in Baton Rouge, which he says has strong support for hockey.

Holmes was also accused of criminal sexual acts with an inmate at the center.

“The decision-making leaders at Acadiana Center for Youth, Office of Juvenile Justice allowed these guards free rein to control these young teenagers and manipulate them for their sexual desires,” the suit claims. “Any supervisor would know or should know of the rampant sex crimes occurring on his watch by the guards because these sex acts could not occur unless the supervisors either knew of them or were completely incompetent.”

Funerals Today Placer, Eloy

St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette at 10am.

Tolson III, John

La Chapelle de Martin & Castille in Lafayette at 11am.

Obituaries Coleman, Randal S.

Randal S. Coleman, 70.

Visitation will be at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette, LA on June 4, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and resumes on June 5, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 pm Mass at St. Edmond Roman Catholic Church. Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.fou ntainmemorialfuneralhom e.com. Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St. 337-981-7098 is in charge of arrangements.

How to place an Obituary Notice EMAIL:

obits@theadvocate.com OR CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION:

225-388-0289

How to place a Memorial Ad An “In Memory Of” ad, is a way to pay tribute to your loved one.

This remembrance is often printed on the anniversary of a loved one’s death.

The deadline is two days prior to the day you want your ad to appear.

TO PLACE A MEMORIAL AD GO TO:

obituaries.theacadianaadvocate.com, click submit an obituary and select create a memoriam.

Email Quinn Coffman at quinn.coffman@ theadvocate.com.

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T h u r s d ay, J u n e 4, 2026

1Cn

Shough’s throws, Kamara’s presence highlight day

BY LUKE JOHNSON Staff writer

Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs a drill during an OTA practice in Metairie on Wednesday.

STAFF PHOTOS By BRETT DUKE

RUNNING IT BACK? Kamara surprisingly shows up to OTAs, says ‘no beef’ with Saints

BY MATTHEW PARAS Staff writer

Alvin Kamara didn’t tell anyone on the New Orleans Saints that he was planning to show up to Wednesday’s offseason workout. The Saints running back, who has a well-documented history of skipping these voluntary sessions, wanted the surprise to speak for itself.

Mission accomplished.

“I walked in this morning

and I was just talking (trash) to some dudes and they looked up, like, ‘Man … who the (expletive)?’ ” Kamara said, recalling his arrival. “They were like, ‘Oh (expletive), AK!’” His coach definitely was not in on the surprise.

“Obviously a little bit unexpected,” coach Kellen Moore said.

After weeks of uncertainty

The second of three organized team activities is in the books for the New Orleans Saints, and this week’s edition included a surprise guest in running back Alvin Kamara.

This has been an interesting offseason for the SAINTS Saints star, who coming off his OBSERVATIONS isworst season as a professional.

New Orleans signed running back Travis Etienne to a big contract in the early stages of free agency, then proceeded to further muddy the waters surrounding Kamara’s status with the team by refusing on multiple occasions to state that he would be part of the team in 2026.

From Kamara’s vantage point, everything had been all quiet until Wednesday, when he showed up for the voluntary workout with the rest of the squad.

This alone was newsworthy, as it had been years since Kamara participated in any of the Saints’ voluntary offseason work.

His participation Wednesday felt like a tacit acknowledgement of all that has transpired this offseason, even if he declined to add any fuel to the speculation when speaking with reporters after practice.

Kamara said he flew from Miami to New Orleans late Tuesday night. He went through light work with his teammates Wednesday, taking second-team reps during the walk-through period and going through drills with the rest of the running backs during some individual position periods.

It is definitely too early to say there has been any sort of resolution between the two sides, but Kamara making an appearance this week does at least feel like the start of something.

Onto the observations.

Attendance

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler, left, and running back Alvin Kamara embrace during an OTA practice in Metairie on ä See KAMARA, page 3C Wednesday.

The following players were not seen during the open practice viewing period: running back Kendre Miller, wide receiver Chris Olave, defensive lineman Zxavian Harris, defensive lineman

ä See SAINTS, page 3C

Choosing lesser of two Prep school player gives UL athletic jolt evils in college sports

BY KEVIN FOOTE Staff writer

Legendary college football coach Woody Hayes once said there were three things that can happen when you pass the ball and that two of them were bad.

If Hayes, who died in 1987, were still around, he Scott say college Rabalais might athletics is facing two prospects, and both of them are bad.

Unfortunately, college sports leaders — coaches, athletic directors, school presidents and conference commissioners — have only themselves to blame for being where we are in 2026.

Either NCAA schools must embrace federal legislation to curb their ills, which likely will bring with it plenty of unintended consequences. Or they can allow unchecked spending to continue, possibly bringing many schools (not just athletic departments) to financial ruin and definitely resulting in college sports programs being cut all over the country.

The bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, unveiled last week

by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), aims to do what NCAA schools have been unable or unwilling to do: address major issues facing college athletics today, most of

them relating to money.

In an age when Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on what color the sky is, what does it say when both sides of the aisle believe college sports needs fixing?

They held a hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday with numerous major college sports figures testifying in regards to the proposed bill. The most prominent was former LSU and Alabama football coach Nick Saban.

Saban talked about how NIL budgets went from $2.7 million near the end of his tenure at Alabama to $40 million for some college football teams today. “Some teams,” if former LSU coach Brian Kelly is to be believed, includes the Tigers.

“It’s become an arms race,” Saban said. “Who spends the most has got the best chance to win.

But I think it’s a race to the bottom, because if you don’t spend to win you lose your fan base and you don’t have any revenue.”

The Protect College Sports Act, among other things, would seek to limit athletes to a onetime transfer without penalty, prohibit former professional athletes from playing in college, cap eligibility at five years and prohibit a coach from leaving for another school before the pres-

ä See RABALAIS, page 3C

Even in the transfer portal era, UL coach Quannas White remains steadfast that developing players is the primary mission of his program.

Watching the progress of Derrick Florence, one of nine additions to the Ragin’ Cajuns roster this offseason, is something White is looking forward to during the upcoming season.

“Derrick is definitely one of those guys where his best basketball is ahead of him,” White said. “He has huge, huge upside.”

Florence is a native of Mobile, Alabama, but after three seasons of high school basketball at Baker High, he spent a season at Our Savior Lutheran Prep in New York.

“The junior-college coaches in my area kind of told me that was the best idea for me,” Florence said. “I was a little better than that and the prep school would help me.

“I feel like I got better everywhere. The game was a lot quicker than when I played in high school.

I got better every day ... getting smarter on the court and thinking a little quicker on my feet.”

In his first game in November after committing to the Cajuns in late August, Florence had 29 points, 17 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals.

The 6-foot-6 wing player said prep school helped him be more patient on the floor and to learn how to let things develop.

PROVIDED PHOTO

Derrick Florence is expected to bring plenty of athleticism, shooting potential and defensive prowess to the Cajuns as a freshman.

It’s been a learning process for Florence since his sophomore season in high school. He played wide receiver in football from the age of 5 until his freshman season.

“I wasn’t doing as well in football, so I tried basketball my 10th grade year and I fell in love with it,” Florence said. “Mobile is more of a football city. I’m more of a 2 or a 3, but I was playing inside at 6-5 in high school. We basically played five out.”

In his last season in Mobile, Flor-

ence averaged 16.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks a game.

White is thrilled about the athleticism Florence will bring to the roster.

“He’s blessed athletically,” White said. “He’s kind of similar to Joshua Lewis. Derrick is a little bit more athletic than Joshua, but it’s the same type of game.”

White plans on helping Florence

ä See UL, page 3C

H 2C ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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FRENCH OPEN

Top-ranked Sabalenka falls flat

BY JEROME PUGMIRE

AP sportswriter

PARIS — After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible.

“Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

“We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.”

Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while serving for the match at 5-4.

What followed was a complete collapse as she lost 12 of the last 13 games against a player appearing in her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, looking increasingly frustrated and forlorn in the windy conditions.

Just like her loss to Coco Gauff in last year’s final, when she also won the first set before becoming undone with a slew of unforced errors, this one will take some time to get over.

“You know those rooms where you just go in and you smash everything,” Sabalenka said. “Probably I will spend a whole day tomorrow over there destroying stuff.

Maybe it will help, maybe not.”

Shnaider next faces Maja Chwalinska, who extended her remarkable Roland Garros run by beating No. 22-seeded Anna Kalinskaya 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Sabalenka stood still and screamed loudly after losing a point to fall 0-30 down in the sixth game of the decider and, although she saved two match points at 0-40 down, she lost when she sent a shot into the net.

“I just think it’s combination of everything,” Sabalenka lamented.

“You overthink, then you make easy mistakes, then you miss opportunities.”

Her struggles were reminiscent of the match against Gauff, when

QB Williams strikes a pose for Madden NFL ’27 cover

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was announced Wednesday as EA Sports’ cover athlete for Madden NFL 27.

On the standard cover, Williams is depicted in a position similar to his pivotal, scrambling, fourth-and-8 jump pass to Rome Odunze in a stirring comeback victory over Green Bay in a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 10.

With his arm cocked to throw and his feet spread, Williams appears to soar above a silhouette of the Chicago skyline.

The deluxe edition features a tight shot of Williams with arms crossed over his white game jersey, a dark, night-like background and snow falling around him.

Being featured on the cover is “like my childhood dream was coming true,” Williams said in a statement.

Warrant issued for 49ers’ Aiyuk on speeding charge

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By EMMA DA SILVA

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after losing a quarterfinal match against Diana Shnaider of Russia at the French Open in Paris on Wednesday. she remonstrated loudly, shouting to herself and glaring at her team box.

“I just have to sit back and openly think about what’s going on in my head in those tough moments,” Sabalenka said, recalling that match. “Because I’m quite an experienced player. I have been through so many things, and I overcome so many things.”

Sabalenka had already looked agitated when serving for the first set but still looked in control as she served for the match in the second, holding a 30-15 lead.

“Of course I saw some moments of her frustration,” Shnaider said.

“I know Aryna, that she’s a very emotional person.”

Shnaider, who was already on her best run at a major, broke Sabelenka before taking complete control.

“Well, honestly I am speechless.

Super happy,” Shnaider said. “I feel like I was trying to focus point by point. Not thinking about the score. She is the world No. 1, so I just trying to do my best. I just had to fight for every point.”

Sabalenka looked increasingly frustrated as the third set wore on, and when she missed a volley

at the net in the fourth game of the decider she crouched and rested her head on her racket.

From qualifier to contender The unseeded Chwalinska came through three qualifying rounds to become only the second Polish woman to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros, along with Swiatek.

Chwalinska said British player Emma Raducanu’s run to the 2021 U.S. Open title as an 18-year-old qualifier had inspired her.

“It was such an impressive run, you know,” Chwalinska recalled.

“Also, she was so young.”

When Kalinskaya’s big forehand from the back of the court went out, the 24-year-old Chwalinska had her biggest win, having never been beyond the second round at any major before this tournament.

Chwalinska’s total prize money heading into Roland Garros was $864,030 and reaching the last four here earns her 750,000 euros (about $872,000).

6-4 and will face fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi for a spot in the final.

Arnaldi advanced when Matteo Berrettini, yet another Italian, retired due to a left hip injury with Arnaldi leading 7-5, 5-2.

Berrettini had his hip treated during a medical timeout earlier in the second set.

The strong Italian showing comes despite top-ranked Jannik Sinner getting stunned in the second round.

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev and No. 26 Jakub Mensik will meet in the other semifinal.

Another upset

It was another big upset in a tournament where defending champion Gauff (third round) and fourtime winner Iga Swiatek (fourth round) already tumbled out.

Sinner, last year’s runner-up, served for the match in a secondround defeat, and 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic wasted a two-set lead in a third-round loss.

That opened things up for lesserknown players. According to Opta, Italian men’s finalist this is the first major without a forIn the men’s quarterfinals, 10th- mer champion in either the men’s seeded Flavio Cobolli beat No. 4 and women’s semifinals since the Felix Auger-Aliassime 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, French Open in 1977.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has issued an arrest warrant for San Francisco 49ers receiver Brandon Aiyuk on a misdemeanor charge of exhibition of speeding.

District attorney’s spokesman Sean Webby confirmed Wednesday that the warrant has been issued in response to a video Aiyuk posted to social media last December that appeared to show him speeding on the road in front of Levi’s Stadium.

Aiyuk posted an apology a few days after the video that appeared to show him driving well over the posted speed limit of 40 mph.

The 28-year-old Aiyuk has 294 catches for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs since being drafted in the first round in 2020.

Prosecutors drop charges against Falcons WR Branch

ATHENS, Ga. — Prosecutors in Georgia have dropped two misdemeanor charges against Atlanta Falcons third-round draft pick and receiver Zachariah Branch.

The former Georgia player was arrested in Athens the weekend before the NFL draft and was charged with obstructing public sidewalks/streets and the obstruction of a law enforcement officer. He was released on a combined $39 bail.

At the time, the Athens-Clarke County Police said they were summoned to an early morning incident in which a large crowd had gathered outside a bar in Athens and was blocking the entrance to the building.

Branch’s attorney, Kim Stephens, issued a statement confirming that the charges had been dropped.

designate outfielder Korda charges into U.S. Women’s Open on a roll Padres Castellanos for assignment

BY GREG BEACHAM AP sportswriter

LOS ANGELES — Nelly Korda fell just short of her first U.S. Women’s Open title a year ago, coming up second to Maja Stark in a finish that was painfully appropriate for her inexplicably winless calendar year.

But that disappointment at Erin Hills is a primary reason Korda arrived at venerable Riviera this week as the world’s No. 1 player and a favorite to raise the trophy at the 81st Open.

“I was just hungry for more,” Korda said of last year’s Open experience. “Last year was just a weird year of kind of not necessarily playing my best, but also when I did, not getting the bounces or just missing by a centimeter here and there. But I also learned a lot about myself. It made me hungrier to be in those positions.”

Korda has been eating this year, all right.

A dominant major title at The Chevron Championship. Three victories overall. Three more secondplace finishes, and an emphatic return to the top of the rankings.

Korda says she welcomes the pressure that accompanies her success, and she is thrilled to be under the spotlight and playing for the richest prize pool in women’s golf at the first women’s Open ever held at Riviera, the 100-year-old country club nestled in Pacific Palisades and patronized by decades of Hollywood royalty.

“I’m just motivated to put myself into that position, to grind on off weeks, to just play the game,” Korda said. “It’s really hard to explain, but there’s nothing better when you’re a very competitive person than being in the hunt on a back nine at a tournament. There’s a really big rush of emotions. Even if it doesn’t

three weeks ago.

First starts Megha Ganne is beginning her pro career at Riviera just one week after last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur champion led Stanford to another NCAA title, making the winning putt to beat USC down the coast in Carlsbad, California. Trojans star and Irvine native Catherine Park is also making her pro debut at Riviera.

Ganne played in the final group of the 2021 Open as a 17-year-old high schooler at Olympic Club in San Francisco, eventually finishing as the top amateur. As her pro career approached, she has been leaning on her LPGA Tour friends, including three-time major champion Lydia Ko. “Being a professional is about the ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By ASHLEy LANDIS little stuff, and the stuff you can’t reNelly Korda hits during a practice round ahead of the U.S. Women’s ally see, like invisible little details,” Ganne said. “That stuff comes with Open on Tuesday in Los Angeles. experience, time, maturity and havwork out, you constantly want to put tion. ing a good team around you.” yourself back into that, because all No matter how her debut goes, “I did kind of want to let it go, bethat work that you’ve put in in your cause it’s weird — it’s like I had it Ganne is graduating from Stanford off weeks. That’s what makes it sitting in my room, and I just saw next week. worth it.” it every day,” Stark said. “And I’m Korda took the past two weeks off like, ‘Oh, this is cool.’ But I just want Wie’s back to make sure she was fully rested to move on. I want the challenge Michelle Wie West is coming out and prepared for the Open and for again. It was fun to have it, but it’s of retirement to play her first tourRiviera, a course she had played more fun to play for it than to have nament since the 2023 U.S. Open. only once before this week. This it, I guess.”

The former wunderkind’s only matournament has never been held Stark had been on the fringes of jor victory was at the Open in 2014, anywhere in Los Angeles County, the LPGA Tour field before her vic- and the 36-year-old mother of two easily the most populous in the U.S. tory last year at Erin Hills — but used her final year of exemption for “It’s amazing out here,” Korda after securing her tour status with a spot in this field. said. “I mean, the vibe of the place, a major win, the Swede promptly Her husband, Jonnie West, will knowing that so much history has missed the cut in five of her next caddy for her at Riviera, while been played out here, it’s a great seven tournaments. She’s now pay- daughter Makenna will be watchplace for us to play.” ing more attention to the mental ing.

“Last time I retired at Pebble side of her game, hiring a therapist Stark contrast Beach, Makenna was 2 and doesn’t and a sports psychologist.

The results are promising: Stark really have any memories,” she Stark began the week by returning the trophy she won by holding is up to 23rd in the world after mak- said. “Hopefully being 6 now, she’ll off Korda last year at the Open, but ing seven cuts in eight starts this have a lot more memories of being she wasn’t sad to comply with tradi- season, finishing 16th in Cincinnati here this week.”

PHILADELPHIA — The San Diego Padres designated outfielder Nick Castellanos for assignment on Wednesday, one day after he received a video tribute in his return to Philadelphia.

Castellanos was released by the Phillies in February just ahead of their first full-squad workout at spring training. The Phillies released him even though they owed him $20 million for the final season of a $100 million, five-year contract.

The Padres took a flier on him and spent only the league minimum of around $780,000 for him this season. Castellanos never returned to his two-time All-Star form in limited action with San Diego. He hit .191 with a .560 OPS, four home runs and 20 RBIs in 39 games for the Padres.

Mets option Tong, recall Gerber to refresh bullpen

SEATTLE — The New York Mets optioned right-hander Jonah Tong to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday before their series finale against the Seattle Mariners.

Righty Joey Gerber was recalled from Syracuse in a corresponding move.

Tong, the No. 35 prospect in MLB Pipeline’s rankings and second in the Mets organization, pitched 31/3 innings in Tuesday’s 8-3 loss, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out four and walking two.

Tong, 22, appeared in three games this season as a bulk reliever after being called up May 22. In 10 innings, he posted a 3.60 ERA with seven strikeouts and seven walks.

Gerber has made one appearance for the Mets this season, allowing two hits and no runs over two innings on April 13. He struck out five batters.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● 3C

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RABALAIS

Continued from page 1C

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By JOSE LUIS MAGANA

Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban testifies before the Senate Commerce Committee on Capitol Hill on Wednesday in Washington about a bill aimed at changing the college sports landscape.

Saban supports Senate bill, but SEC, Big Ten push back

BY JOEY CAPPELLETTI and EDDIE PELLS Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban and others testified Wednesday in support of a bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling a college sports system where players can increasingly earn millions of dollars while moving freely between schools.

The leaders of the Senate Commerce Committee held the hearing as they push legislation unveiled last week that supporters hope can break the congressional gridlock over how to regulate college athletics. But it’s already facing criticism from some senators and the two most influential conferences in college sports.

The bill, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., would regulate payments to athletes, limit them to one “free” transfer during their careers and create a “Lane Kiffin Rule” restricting coaches from leaving programs during the season. Cruz touted the proposal as “the last, best hope we have to save college sports.”

“If you had the biggest, baddest Ferrari that you could ever have and it was going 150 miles an hour toward the Grand Canyon, somebody needs to tap the brakes. And I think that’s what we all need to do here,” Saban said in his opening remarks.

Notably absent from the the witness list, which included the Notre Dame athletic director and the

KAMARA

Continued from page 1C about whether he’ll be on the roster next season, Kamara’s surprise appearance Wednesday was the latest twist in a saga that already has taken its fair share of turns. But the situation, even with the visit, is far from settled.

The Saints have indicated they would like to address Kamara’s contract, but speaking to reporters for the first time since last season, the Saints’ all-time leading rusher said he hasn’t talked with general manager Mickey Loomis, nor has he been approached about taking a pay cut.

Kamara is entering the last year of his contract and holds a cap hit of nearly $10.5 million, which was already reduced earlier this offseason when the Saints restructured the deal using an unconventional salary cap tactic called the 50% rule. The Saints also seemingly signed his replacement in March by giving a four-year, $52 million contract to Travis Etienne.

Kamara, who reiterated that he had no problem with Etienne’s signing, said he’s “going to be ready” to play for the Saints next season. He also acknowledged there are some “conversations that may need to be had” to determine his status.

“Look, I’m prepared,” Kamara said. “I’m under contract. I still got my locker. That’s really why I came. My locker’s still here. My fingerprint still works at the door.

Like I guess I’m here, right?

“That’s what that means. You know what I’m saying? So yeah, man, I’m good.”

If Kamara’s unexpected attendance was a way to put pressure on the franchise to make a decision, the running back did not confirm the tactic. He said he wanted

commissioner of the newly reconstructed Pac-12 Conference, were any representatives from either the Big Ten or Southeastern Conference. Saban won seven national championships at SEC schools Alabama and LSU but said he was not in Washington to represent any conference or team.

The SEC and the Big Ten, the two most powerful conferences in college sports, oppose the bill, arguing it “leaves critical issues unresolved.”

Asked after the hearing about opposition from the SEC and Big Ten, Cruz said he remains confident the bill can pass Congress.

“We’re going to get the votes,” Cruz said. “If we do nothing, there is no alternative. As every witness testified, college sports is facing a crisis.”

Cantwell said at Wednesday’s hearing that the legislation is intended to restore competition to college athletics by ensuring success is determined by how universities “build a team, and not because they have a billionaire in their back pocket.”

She also addressed the conferences’ opposition directly, suggesting they fear a more level playing field and the idea “that somebody’s going to come in and rearrange the deck chairs of those conferences, steal the eyeball schools, and then basically leave everybody with everything else.”

While Cruz and Cantwell, the two top-ranked lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee, support the bill, passage through the

Senate is far from certain. President Donald Trump has yet to comment on the bill publicly.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, an ally of Trump’s, said he had “grave concerns” about the bill. He said his most important concern was “it does nothing about protecting biological women from competing with men and sports” — an issue that Trump has dealt with via executive orders but that has not come up in any version of these bills.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., a former college football coach at Auburn, said Tuesday that “there’s going to have to be some changes” to the bill for him to support it.

House Republican leadership had been working toward a vote on its own college sports bill, known as the SCORE Act, before the Congressional Black Caucus announced its unanimous opposition.

The CBC said the legislation should not move forward after a recent Supreme Court ruling that effectively disabled a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. They say athletic leaders are failing to address concerns about the decision’s impact on Black political representation.

On Wednesday, the Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to Cruz and Cantwell urging the committee to pause consideration of their bill as well.

“Meaningful engagement and action by college athletics leadership should be viewed as a necessary first step,” the letter stated.

to show up at some point because of the number of teammates who had checked up on him over the last several months. Kamara said he made the decision to book a late flight Tuesday and arrived in New Orleans at 1 a.m. before showing up to the facility in the morning.

The Saints seemed unprepared for Kamara’s arrival. New Orleans had the five-time Pro Bowler participate in individual drills but chose not to include him in any 7-on-7 work or team walk-throughs. During individual drills, Kamara’s reps came notably after Etienne and several other backs.

Moore said Kamara’s workload would be lighter since he has to go through an “acclimation process” of getting up to speed.

“I’m excited to be able to spend a little bit of time with him and just kind of see where he’s at,” Moore said. “But it’s good to see him.”

Even Wednesday, Moore appeared noncommittal about Kamara’s future. The coach said Kamara could fit in “really well from an offensive standpoint,” but he deflected when asked several times whether the Saints had decided to keep him around for next season.

The lack of a decision has been polarizing. Former Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu criticized the franchise for not acting in “good faith,” arguing the Saints were mistreating their all-time leading rusher. Mathieu suggested the Saints don’t have “the balls to outright cut him” and would rather Kamara retire.

Second-year running back Devin Neal said he had been speaking with Kamara “pretty consistently” this offseason, which is why he wasn’t completely shocked the veteran showed up to practice this week. Neal said Kamara had told

him he planned to attend at some point, though he did not specify when.

“Just to hear his thoughts about everything going on — the elephant is definitely in the room,” Neal said. “Just to see what’s going on, what’s he’s gonna do, what we’re gonna do with him.”

Kamara said he isn’t confused by how the Saints have acted over the last several months. He also disagreed with the idea that the franchise was acting disrespectfully by not providing a clear answer about whether it plans to keep him.

“I’ve been through a lot in my life, man,” Kamara said. “I learned not to take things personal. Man, I’m blessed. Like it is what it is. We’re in a business that’s unique to a lot of spaces in the world. Nothing catches me off guard, man.”

So would Kamara be open to taking a pay cut to stick around?

“I haven’t had any conversations in regard to that, so I don’t know,” Kamara said. “I think there’s a time and a place for everything. If that conversation comes up, then I’ll have an answer for you when it comes up.”

For now, Kamara was set to embrace the people he hadn’t seen since the end of last season. Before practice began Wednesday, he hugged defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and enthusiastically greeted several other teammates.

He said afterward he even had a chance to catch up with Moore.

“On my side, I feel no pressure,” Kamara said. “There’s no beef or bad blood, I don’t think. I’m just doing what I do every year, working.

Whatever decisions have got to be made, they’ll be made.”

Email Matthew Paras at matt. paras@theadvocate.com

ent school’s season is completed.

The latter was labeled the “Lane Kiffin Rule” for the new LSU coach who left before Ole Miss’ first game in the College Football Playoff. The one about former pro athletes certainly could pertain to LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade’s still growing roster.

There are many other provisions in the bill, among them giving cover to the NCAA and the new College Sports Commission to basically enforce a spending cap on how much each school can pay its athletes and pooling media rights for the various conferences that the bill’s sponsors argue would create more revenue.

Saban admitted the bill isn’t perfect and needs “adjustments.” The Southeastern Conference and Big Ten agreed.

The two mega conferences, who essentially hold all of the power over the CFP, can’t agree how big the CFP should be. But they do agree the Protect College Sports Act needs work and declined to give it their support in a joint statement released Tuesday.

The SEC and Big Ten have a point — to a point. The bill isn’t perfect. But their motivation, quite transparently, appears to be the protection of their media rights.

“The posture of these two commissioners indicates that they do not care about the fate of the other conferences or smaller schools,” Cody Campbell, a Texas Tech billionaire booster and head of its board of regents, said earlier this year. “Nor do they care about the life-changing opportunity provided to women and to athletes in our Olympic sports.”

Not long after Campbell’s

UL

Continued from page 1C

comments, Arkansas announced plans to cut its men’s and women’s tennis programs. They have since been reinstated because of the backlash, but the threat to non-revenue programs — basically everything outside of football, men’s basketball and a few baseball teams — is real.

Kirby Smart said at last week’s SEC spring meetings that he’s a proponent of the SEC making its own rules to make its programs more stable. I disagree with that, but he also sounded the alarm to the real threat to Olympic/nonrevenue programs.

“My biggest concern for our sport is that we will ruin all the other sports,” Smart said.

“People say, ‘That’s just the way it is.’ I don’t agree with that. We develop Olympians. We (football players) sit in classrooms next to someone who swims and dives.”

Maybe you don’t care whether colleges continue to lavish unchecked dollars on football and men’s basketball because that’s where the money is, at the expense of everything else. But that’s not the intent of college athletics or the college experience.

LSU offers 330 different degree programs. Should LSU only offer degrees in business, prelaw and medicine because that’s where the money is? Of course not.

College sports spent its way into this financial pickle. It won’t figure a way out without some oversight from somewhere. It may sound comical to think the federal government, which has created the enormous national debt, should be able to help. But college athletics clearly has proven it can’t help itself.

“We’re all grasping for somebody to give us some direction on what to do,” LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey said at the SEC spring meetings.

Sometimes, you have to grasp for the least bad option.

could tell they were serious about it.”

Arriving this week to begin summer workout sessions, Florence intends to focus on “my jump shot for sure, but also my ballhandling and using the weight room to get bigger.”

Florence will be joined at UL by three high school signees in Isaiah Wilks, a 5-10 point guard from Oklahoma City; 6-8 Ty’shawn Duncan from Alexandria; and 6-7 swing man Zayson Salanoa from Humble, Texas.

The Cajuns also added a transfer portal group that includes 6-8 forward Dani Pounds of Tennessee Tech, 6-7 forward Josiah Harris from Cleveland State, 6-foot guard Mekhi Cooper from Lindenwood and 6-3 Trent Middleton from North Carolina A&T.

improve as a shooter, although the Alabama native feels he can already score “on all three levels.”

“I think he has the ability to be a really good 3-point shooter,” White said. “They label guys in the NBA as ‘3-and-D’ guys. I think that’s where Derrick can be one day.

“He’s going to become a really good 3-point shooter, and I think he’s a two-way guy with the ability to cause havoc on the defensive end.”

Among the other 10 offers Florence received were Old Dominion, Texas-San Antonio, Florida Atlantic and UNO. “He (UL assistant coach Donald Reyes) wasn’t playing,” Florence said. “They were calling and Email Kevin Foote at kfoote@ catching up with me every day. I theadvocate.com.

SAINTS

Continued from page 1C Nathan Shepherd and defensive end Chase Young.

The following players attended practice but did not participate in anything outside of walk-through: wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, defensive lineman Christen Miller and tight end Oscar Delp.

Shough starts strong Let’s get the caveat out of the way: These are spring workouts and therefore are not necessarily indicative of anything that will happen from here on out. The Saints practiced without pads, and the most competitive thing they did was a pair of 7-on-7 periods.

That being said, Tyler Shough made some impressive throws in those limited competitive settings — the sort of throws that show the strides he’s made since his rookie season ended.

Last year around this time, Shough had the look of a player who was trying to play within the structure of an offense that did not want him to do too much.

There were a lot of check-downs, even in 7-on-7 periods, in which Shough was taking the easy outlet rather than attacking the defense.

That was not the case Wednesday, when Shough pushed the ball downfield to his targets. Working without his presumptive top two wideouts — Olave and Tyson — Shough still made several big completions downfield in his 10 competitive reps.

His best throw came when he found Ja’Lynn Polk streaking near the right hash mark about 20 yards down the field on a deep over route. Shough quickly worked through his progression

on the play and hit Polk in rhythm for a big gain. On the next play, Shough hit Kevin Austin in almost the exact same spot after a scramble drill for another big gain.

In all, Shough completed six passes, with four of them coming in the intermediate part of the field. The only true deep shot he attempted landed just out of the reach of receiver Bub Means.

Odds and ends Defensive back Martin Emerson secured the lone turnover of the day when he intercepted a Spencer Rattler pass intended for Bryce Lance. The interception came on a batted ball and Emerson was in the right spot to make the play.

Emerson signed with the Saints in late April, and he is an intriguing player in the defensive backfield. He’s 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds and started 33 NFL games. If he can bounce back from an Achilles injury that cost him all of last year, he could play some meaningful football in New Orleans.

Speaking of Lance, he had the biggest play of the day when he beat the defensive back across from him with a double move before hauling in a deep touchdown from third-string quarterback Zach Wilson. That is precisely what the Saints want to see out of the speedy fourth-round pass catcher.

Devaughn Vele didn’t have a ton of action as a receiver Wednesday — he caught one of his two targets — but, interestingly, he did see the field as a holder for kicks.

That role presumably will belong to punter Ryan Wright, but with Wright not present, Vele handled those duties.

Email Luke Johnson at ljohnson@theadvocate.com.

4C ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

lll

LHSAA moving 3 of its title games to new sites seasons at the Pontchartrain Boys basketball set to two Center in Kenner. boys basketball tournament return to Cajundome hasThebeen held in Lake Charles

BY CHRISTOPHER DABE Staff writer

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS By MARK J. TERRILL

Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell misplays a ball hit by Colorado Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield that hit him in the head and then bounced out for a solo home run during the fourth inning on Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif. It was a night to forget for Adell, who went 0 for 4 in an 8-2 loss.

Canseco can relate

Angels outfielder Adell’s misplayed flyball reminiscent of 1993 gaffe

By The Associated Press ANAHEIM, Calif. — Earlier this season, Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell had an incredible night to remember on defense, when he robbed the Seattle Mariners of three home runs.

This time, he was on the wrong end of a play to forget.

Adell misplayed a flyball into a bizarre home run off his head Tuesday, a fielding blunder reminiscent of José Canseco’s embarrassing gaffe 33 years ago with the Texas Rangers.

Adell reached up to catch TJ Rumfield’s deep fly for the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning, but the ball grazed the outside of his glove before bouncing off his head and over the wall for a solo homer.

“I was toward the line and I felt like I had a little bit longer way to go than I normally do on a route like that and just missed it,” Adell told MLB.com. “It hit off my hat.

I don’t know if I overran it and took a step over. But it was kind of the icing on the cake because I was (bad) all the way around the whole day today.”

There was brief confusion on the field when the ball caromed off a digital scoreboard above the fence and back into the outfield.

Rumfield stopped at second base, initially unsure of the ruling, before proceeding around the bases

“It’s one of those things where how it happened looks crazy.

It looks like I’ve never played in the field before, which is disappointing, because it’s beyond the truth.”

JO ADELL, Angels outfielder to give Colorado an 8-0 lead on the way to an 8-2 victory.

“It’s one of those things where how it happened looks crazy,” said Adell, who also went 0 for 4 at the plate with two strikeouts. “It looks like I’ve never played in the field before, which is disappointing, because it’s beyond the truth. But it is what it is. I’m the only one that really knows what happened.

I was out there, and it happened to me, so it is what it is. I’ve got to just keep going, and as a team, we’ve got to keep going.”

It was similar to an infamous play on May 26, 1993, when Canseco lost track of a long drive hit

by Cleveland’s Carlos Martínez.

The ball bounced off Canseco’s head and over the right-field wall for a home run.

Rumfield’s gift homer ended the night for Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez, who gave up three homers and eight runs in 32/ 3 innings.

The play also stood in stark contrast to some of Adell’s field-

ing exploits this season, including that April game in which he stole three would-be homers from the Mariners — including one in the ninth inning — to preserve a 1-0 victory for the Angels.

After that one, former Gold Glove outfielder Torii Hunter, now a special assistant to the general manager for the Angels, said Adell had “probably the greatest defensive game I’ve ever seen.”

“He robbed three homers in one night this year, so it’s baseball, and it’s a crazy game,” Rodriguez said. “Things happen. Obviously, he didn’t do that on purpose. All you can do is really just move on.”

Adell struggled at times with fielding early in his major league career, including a play during the 2020 season when a deep drive by Rangers outfielder Nick Solak bounced out of Adell’s glove for what was ruled a rare four-base error. But Adell has had far more fielding highlights than lowlights since, and he was a Gold Glove finalist in 2024.

“Jo’s made great strides defensively from when I played with him,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “And obviously, he had the night he robbed three home runs.

So I look back at the strides that he’s made defensively.

“It was a tough play tonight, but at the same time, the strides that he’s made defensively have been great.”

since 2014 and will return to the Cajundome for the first time since 2011 — except when select schools held their tournament games at the Cajundome in 2022.

The LHSAA in a release said that moving the boys basketball tournament to Lafayette put it in “a centralized location for schools and fans traveling from every corner of the state.”

Moving the state wrestling tournament to will improve “accessibility for a significant portion of the state’s wrestling community,” the LHSAA said in its release.

The LHSAA announced three venue site changes for state championships beginning with the 202627 academic year.

The boys basketball state championships will move to the Cajundome after 13 seasons at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.

The state wrestling tournament will take place at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans after being held in Bossier City and Baton Rouge in recent years.

The powerlifting state championships move to the West Monroe Contact Christopher Dabe at Sports & Events Complex after cdabe@theadvocate.com

LSWA CLASS 1A ALL-STATE TEAMS Baseball Pos. Player School Class Rec./Avg. P Mason Dudek Covenant Christian Sr. 12-2 P Kade Luker Cedar Creek Jr. 10-1 P Jayce Ruiz Riverside Sr. 7-2 P Peyton Vizena St. Edmund Sr. 8-2 C Peyton Trosclair Covenant Christian Sr. .392 INF Keaton Cason Logansport Sr. .451 INF Brandon Guagliardo Central Catholic Fr. .358 INF A.J. Lavespere St. Mary’s Sr. .346 INF Maden Rodriguez Central Catholic So. .366 OF Ryan Coleman Cedar Creek Jr. .359 OF Nate Loupe Covenant Christian Jr. .388 OF Myka Nipple Catholic-Pointe Coupee Jr. .425 UT Myles Collins Opelousas Catholic Jr. .394 UT Law Faulk Grand Lake So. 6-1 UT Owen O’Neil St. Frederick Sr. .380 UT Owen Trosclair Covenant Christian Sr. .391 UT Brody Vicknair Riverside Jr. .449 Most outstanding player: Kade Luker, Cedar Creek Coach of the year: Brent Hidalgo, Central Catholic Honorable mention: Vaughn Blanchard, Ascension Catholic; Luke Brignac, Ascension Christian; Blaize Brister, Merryville; Winn Cedars, St. Mary’s; Cy Crowson, St. John; Landon Daigle, St. John; Gavin Edwards, Montgomery; Tyler Edwards, St. John; Jaxon Frederick, Centerville; Kross Gillen, Opelousas Catholic; Parker Gros, Central Catholic; Riley Hebert, Centerville; Carter Hotard, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; David Irwin, Central Catholic; King Jones, Logansport; Mason Jordan, Montgomery; Cy Landry, Ascension Catholic; Luke Leaumont, St. Frederick; Cole Mirante, Merryville; Jude Morrison, Catholic-Pointe Coupee; Haidyn Nelson, St. Mary’s; Preston Peebles, Ascension Episcopal; Lanny Reed, St. Edmund; Gabe Savarese, St. Martin’s; Alex Scheuermann, St. Martin’s; William Simon, Vermilion Catholic; Luke Spangler, Centerville; Carter Stelly, Opelousas Catholic; Landon Underwood, Central Catholic; Owen Vacarella, Hanson; Johnny Viallon, Ascension Catholic; Connor Yates, Cedar Creek.

Softball Pos. Player School Class Rec./Avg. P Kamryn Cancienne Riverside Sr. 22-6 P Ava Gauthe Ascension Catholic Sr. 17-9 P Landry Long LaSalle So. 23-2 P Ainsley Morvan Logansport So. 15-9 C Brynn Beard Merryville So. .563 INF Gabi Brown Glenbrook Academy Sr. .524 INF Charli Neumann St. John Sr. .605 INF Olivia St. Pierre Riverside So. .477 INF Bella Trosclair Covenant Christian Sr. .559 OF Sophie Crochet Ascension Catholic Sr. .475 OF Avery Houser St. Frederick Sr. .418 OF Bayli Melancon Riverside So. .447 UT Alaina Beard Grand Lake Sr. 13-5 UT Camille DeGravelle St. Frederick So. .380 UT Sanaa Lyles Plain Dealing Sr .630 UT Kinley Morris LaSalle Sr. .512 UT Grace Wren St. Mary’s Sr. 17-6 Most outstanding player: Charli Neumann, St. John Coach of the year: Ryan Monceaux, Grand Lake Honorable mention: Emmarie Atkins, Logansport; Ally Atwood, Delta Charter; Hydi Boyd, Cedar Creek; Addy Brown, Central Private; Tyonnah Burton, St. Mary’s; Addie Clampit, St. Frederick; Karson Davis, Covenant Christian; Emma Delatte, Ascension Catholic; Onnie Doucet, Hanson; Kaleigh Evans, Covenant Christian; Sofie Green, Plain Dealing; Anna-Maria Gros, Central Catholic; Heidi Harrison, St. Frederick; Gracie Heard, Glenbrook Academy; Sophie Hedrick, Delta Charter; Malorie LaCaze, St. Mary’s; Ava Lantrip, Cedar Creek; Avery McCartney, Central Private; Lawson Olinde, Catholic-PC; Emma Pitre, Hanson; Addison Quick, Covenant Christian; Mia Richard, Grand Lake; Averie Ryals, Central Catholic; Zoie Scully, Central Catholic; Mia Sisco, Westminster Christian-Lafayette; Kennedi Smith, Logansport; Brooklyn Steward, Merryville; Hallie Sutton, Glenbrook; Ava Taylor, Delta Charter; Hannah Thevis, Grand Lake; Madison Trahan, Grand Lake; Presley Wall, Cedar Creek.

SCOREBOARD Odds Major League Baseball American League

FAVORITE Baltimore at N.Y YANKEES at MINNESOTA

LINE OFF -164 OFF

UNDERDOG at BOSTON Cleveland Kansas City

FAVORITE at PHILADELPHIA at MILWAUKEE LA Dodgers

LINE -192 OFF -147

UNDERDOG LINE San Diego +161 San Francisco OFF at ARIZONA +124

FAVORITE at ATLANTA at CHICAGO CUBS Pittsburgh

LINE -188 OFF -111

UNDERDOG Toronto Athletics at HOUSTON

LINE +158 OFF -108

FAVORITE at CAROLINA

LINE -162

UNDERDOG Vegas

LINE +136

National League

Interleague

NHL

LINE OFF +139 OFF

Pro basketball (Best-of-7; x-if necessary) San Antonio vs. New York Wednesday: New York at San Antonio, n Friday: New York at San Antonio, 7:30 p.m.

Monday: San Antonio at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10: San Antonio at New York, 7:30 p.m. x-Saturday, June 13: New York at San Antonio, TBA x-Tuesday, June 16: San Antonio at New York, TBA x-Friday, June 19: New York at San Antonio, TBA

WNBA glance

EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlanta New York Toronto Washington Indiana Chicago Connecticut

W 6 5 5 4 4 3 2

L 2 4 4 4 4 6 9

Pct .750 .556 .556 .500 .500 .333 .182

GB — 1½ 1½ 2 2 3½ 5½

Minnesota Dallas Las Vegas Golden State Portland Los Angeles Seattle Phoenix

W 7 6 6 6 6 4 3 2

L 2 3 3 3 5 5 7 8

Pct .778 .667 .667 .667 .545 .444 .300 .200

GB — 1 1 1 2 3 4½ 5½

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Atlanta 91, Connecticut 75 Washington 90, Chicago 72 Golden State 95, Portland 77 Las Vegas 79, Los Angeles 69

Wednesday’s games

Toronto at New York, n Phoenix at Seattle, n

Thursday’s games

Atlanta at Indiana, 6 p.m.

Golden State at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Friday’s games

West Division

American League

Los Angeles San Diego Arizona Colorado San Francisco

East Division Tampa Bay New York Baltimore Toronto Boston

W 36 36 29 29 25

L 23 24 32 32 34

Pct .610 .600 .475 .475 .424

Cleveland Chicago Minnesota Detroit Kansas City

W 35 33 29 25 23

L 27 29 34 38 38

Pct GB .565 — .532 2 .460 6½ .397 10½ .377 11½

Seattle Texas Athletics Houston Los Angeles

W 33 30 29 27 23

L 30 31 31 35 39

Pct .524 .492 .483 .435 .371

Central Division

West Division

Tuesday’s games

NBA Finals

Tuesday’s games

Major League Baseball

Connecticut at Chicago, 6:30 p.m.

Dallas at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.

Phoenix at Portland, 9 p.m.

GB — ½ 8 8 11

GB — 2 2½ 5½ 9½

Detroit 8, Tampa Bay 0 Baltimore 4, Boston 2 Atlanta 4, Toronto 3 Cincinnati 4, Kansas City 3, 10 innings Cleveland 9, N.Y. Yankees 4 Minnesota 6, Chicago White Sox 4 Athletics 2, Chicago Cubs 1 Texas 7, St. Louis 4 Pittsburgh 10, Houston 6 Seattle 8, N.Y. Mets 3 Colorado 8, L.A. Angels 2

Pct GB .639 — .542 6 .533 6½ .387 15½ .377 16

Philadelphia 3, San Diego 2 Atlanta 4, Toronto 3 Miami 7, Washington 3 Cincinnati 4, Kansas City 3, 10 innings Athletics 2, Chicago Cubs 1 Milwaukee 8, San Francisco 3 Texas 7, St. Louis 4 Pittsburgh 10, Houston 6 Seattle 8, N.Y. Mets 3 Colorado 8, L.A. Angels 2 L.A. Dodgers 6, Arizona 5

Wednesday’s games

N.Y. Mets 7, Seattle 1 Miami 4, Washington 1 San Diego at Philadelphia, n Kansas City at Cincinnati, n Toronto at Atlanta, n San Francisco at Milwaukee, n Texas at St. Louis, n Athletics at Chicago Cubs, n Pittsburgh at Houston, n Colorado at L.A. Angels, n L.A. Dodgers at Arizona, n San Diego (Giolito 2-0) at Philadelphia (Wheeler 4-1), 12:05 p.m.

San Francisco (Houser 2-5) at Milwaukee (Crow 0-0), 1:10 p.m.

Toronto (TBD) at Atlanta (Sale 8-3), 6:15 p.m.

Athletics (TBD) at Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 4-6), 7:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Jones 0-0) at Houston (Teng 3-3), 7:10 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers (Wrobleski 7-2) at Arizona (Nelson 2-4), 8:40 p.m.

Detroit 7, Tampa Bay 2 N.Y. Mets 7, Seattle 1 Chicago White Sox 8, Minnesota 0 Baltimore at Boston, n Cleveland at N.Y. Yankees, n Kansas City at Cincinnati, n Toronto at Atlanta, n Texas at St. Louis, n Athletics at Chicago Cubs, n Pittsburgh at Houston, n Colorado at L.A. Angels, n

College softball College World Series At Devon Park; Oklahoma City

Thursday’s games

Baltimore (Rogers 2-6) at Boston (Bello 2-5), 12:35 p.m.

Cleveland (Cecconi 3-5) at N.Y. Yankees (Rodón 1-2), 12:35 p.m.

Toronto (TBD) at Atlanta (Sale 8-3), 6:15 p.m.

Kansas City (Lugo 2-4) at Minnesota (TBD), 6:40 p.m.

Athletics (TBD) at Chicago Cubs (Imanaga 4-6), 7:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh (Jones 0-0) at Houston (Teng 3-3), 7:10 p.m.

National League Atlanta Philadelphia Washington Miami New York

W 41 31 31 29 27

L 20 29 32 34 35

Pct GB .672 — .517 9½ .492 11 .460 13 .435 14½

Milwaukee Pittsburgh Chicago St. Louis Cincinnati

W 37 33 32 31 31

L 21 28 29 28 29

Pct .638 .541 .525 .525 .517

Central Division

L 22 27 28 38 38

Thursday’s games

Wednesday’s games

East Division

Tuesday’s games

W 39 32 32 24 23

GB — 5½ 6½ 6½ 7

Championship Series

(Best-of-3) TEXAS VS. TEXAS TECH Wednesday: Game 1, n Thursday: Game 2, 8 pm. x — Friday: Texas vs. Texas Tech, 7 p.m.

College baseball Super regional glance Double elimination; x-if necessary

Athens, Ga.

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 1 Mississippi St., 10 a.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 1 Mississippi St., 11 a.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 1 Mississippi St., TBD

Auburn, Ala.

Friday Game 1: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Ole Miss, 7 p.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Ole Miss, 4 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 2 Ole Miss, TBD

Austin, Texas

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon, 7 p.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon, 8 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Texas vs. No. 1 Oregon, TBD

Chapel Hill, N.C.

Friday Game 1: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern California, 2 p.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern California, 1 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 2 Southern California, TBD

Lawrence, Kansas

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, 5 p.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, 5 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Kansas vs. No. 2 Oklahoma, TBD

Morgantown, W. Va.

Friday Game 1: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 3 Cal Poly, 11 a.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 3 Cal Poly, 11 a.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 West Virginia vs. No. 3 Cal Poly, TBD

Troy, Ala.

Friday Game 1: No. 3 Troy vs. No. 4 Little Rock, 4 p.m.

Saturday Game 2: No. 3 Troy vs. No. 4 Little Rock, 2 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 3 Troy vs. No. 4 Little Rock, TBD

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Saturday Game 1: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 St. John’s, 8 p.m.

Sunday Game 2: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 St. John’s, 2 p.m. x-Game 3: No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 St. John’s, TBD

Tennis French Open At Stade Roland Garros, Paris Purse: $33,513,885; Surface: Red clay

Men’s singles

Quarterfinals Flavio Cobolli (10), Italy, def. Felix AugerAliassime (4), Canada, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Women’s singles

Quarterfinals Maja Chwalinska, Poland, def. Anna Kalinskaya (22), Russia, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Diana Shnaider (25), Russia, def. Aryna Sabalenka (1), Belarus, 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.

Men’s doubles

Quarterfinals Harri Heliovaara, Finland, and Henry Patten (2), Britain, def. Marcelo Demoliner, Brazil, and N. Sriram Balaji, India, 6-3, 6-4.

Marcel Granollers, Spain, and Horacio Zeballos (1), Argentina, def. Edouard Roger-Vasselin, France, and Hugo Nys (10), Monaco, 6-3, 6-4.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Quentin Halys, France, def. David Pel and Sander Arends, Netherlands, 6-4, 6-4.

Women’s doubles

Quarterfinals Shuko Aoyama, Japan, and En-Shuo Liang, Taiwan, def. Kristina Mladenovic, France, and Hanyu Guo (13), China, 6-4, 6-4.

Aleksandra Krunic, Serbia, and Anna Danilina (2), Kazakhstan, def. Demi Schuurs, Netherlands, and Ellen Perez (7), Australia, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

Auto racing NASCAR Cup Series Points leaders Through May 31

1. Tyler Reddick, 657.

2. Denny Hamlin, 560.

3. Ryan Blaney, 483.

4. Chase Elliott, 460.

5. Ty Gibbs, 449.

6. Kyle Larson, 409.

7. Christopher Bell, 399.

8. Chris Buescher, 393.

9. Carson Hocevar, 383.

10. Daniel Suárez, 378.

11. William Byron, 352.

12. Shane Van Gisbergen, 348.

13. Brad Keselowski, 347.

14. Chase Briscoe, 343.

15. Bubba Wallace, 338.

16. Austin Cindric, 306.

17. Ryan Preece, 304.

18. Joey Logano, 297.

19. Michael McDowell, 275.

20. Zane Smith, 272.

Transactions Major League Baseball

American League BOSTON RED SOX — Placed UTL Nick Sogard on the 10-Day IL retroactive to May 31. Recalled INF Anthony Seigler from Worcester (IL).

TAMPA BAY RAYS — Optioned RHP Trevor Martin to Durham (IL). Recalled RHP Mason Englert from Durham.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS — Sent C Alejandro Kirk and RHP Yimi García on rehab assignments to Dunedin (FSL).

National League CINCINNATI REDS — Optioned CF TJ Friedl to Louisville (IL). Recalled OF Noelvi Marte from Louisville.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS — Placed LHP Rob Zastryzny on the 15-day IL retroactive to May 31. Recalled LHP Robert Gasser from Nashville (IL).

NEW YORK METS — Optioned RHP Jonah Tong to Syracuse (IL). Recalled RHP Joey Gerber from Syracuse.

SAN DIEGO PADRES — Designated RF Nick Castellanos for assignment. Selected the contract of 2B Samad Taylor from El Paso (PCL).

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Placed LHP Matt Gage on the 15-day IL retroactive to June 2. Recalled RHP Dylan Smith from Sacramento (PCL).

FOOTBALL

NFL DALLAS COWBOYS — Signed WR Jaden Smith to a contract.

MIAMI DOLPHINS — Signed G/T Kadyn Proctor to a rookie contract.

NEW YORK JETS — Signed K Jason Sanders to a contract. Waived K Younghoe Koo and WR Da’Quan Felton.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — Signed LB Chandler Martin to a contract.

LIVING

T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M

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T h u r s d ay, J u n e 4, 2026

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A little prep goes a long way for chicken thighs with veggies

BY LINDA GASSENHEIMER Tribune News Service (TNS)

For this easy, hands-off dinner, the oven does all the work.

Bone-in chicken thighs, coated in rich pasta sauce, roasted on a sheet pan will stay tender, juicy and full of flavor.

To save time, the potatoes and asparagus get a head start in the microwave before finishing alongside the chicken, soaking up all those delicious pan juices. Lining the sheet pan with foil makes cleanup easy. It just needs a quick rinse and you’re done.

Creamer potatoes are small, about ¾ inch in diameter, and new potatoes are a little larger and measure about 2 inches in diameter. Both are tender, flavorful potatoes that have a short spring season. Either can be used.

HELPFUL HINTS: n Any type of pasta sauce can be used. n Green beans can be used instead of asparagus.

Cowboy Caviar (aka Texas Caviar)

Bean there, done that B

Recipe, 6C

PHOTOS By LIZ FAUL

Going beyond the traditional red beans and rice, here are 3 recipes to try featuring popular legumes

Liz Faul

TNS PHOTO By LINDA GASSENHEIMER

Savory Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus Yields 2 servings. Recipe is by Linda Gassenheimer.

1 pound bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed Olive oil spray 1 cup pasta sauce ¾ pound creamer potatoes washed with skin on, about 2 cups ¼ pound asparagus cut into 2-inch pieces (about 2 cups cut) 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and freshly ground black pepper ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese 1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a large baking sheet with foil.

2. Place chicken thighs skinside-up on one side of the sheet.

Spray them with olive oil spray.

Spoon pasta sauce over the chicken. Place sheet in heated oven for 15 minutes.

3. While chicken bakes, place potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high 2 minutes. Add the asparagus to the bowl with the potatoes and microwave 2 minutes. Add the olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well.

4. After the chicken bakes for 15 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and add the potatoes and asparagus to the empty side of the sheet.

5. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the chicken and place the sheet back in the oven.

Bake 5 minutes. A meat thermometer should read 165 F for the chicken.

6. Divide the chicken, potatoes and asparagus in half and place on two dinner plates.

NUTRITION INFO PER SERVING: 547 calories (34 percent from fat), 20.5 g fat (4.4 g saturated, 7.6 g monounsaturated), 167 mg cholesterol, 44.0 g protein, 47.4 g carbohydrates, 7.5 g fiber, 378 mg sodium.

eans are having a moment.

Lately, they seem to be in the cultural zeitgeist.

At local markets in New Orleans, I have seen a wide variety of heirloom beans on the shelves.

Last month, I went to a delicious bean popup, called “Luci’s Beans,” by chef Luci Winsberg at Really Really Nice Wines on Magazine Street.

Last week, I read a report

by National Public Radio titled “What’s Eating America.” It discussed the resurgence in popularity of beans amongst Americans. The renewed popularity of legumes was attributed to the fact that they are versatile, inexpensive and healthy.

In Louisiana, we don’t need to be convinced of the value or flavor of beans. Red beans and rice is a classic New Orleans dish

ä See LEGUMES, page 6C

Lemon-Garlic White Bean Dip with Fennel

Serves 8. This recipe is adapted from a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen.

FOR THE DIP: 1 teaspoon olive oil 4 green onions (scallions), white and light green ends chopped 2 (15-ounce cans) small white beans, like cannellini beans (drained and rinsed) 1 lemon, zested and juiced 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon olive oil (or lemon

olive oil) ½ teaspoon salt LEMON FENNEL TOPPING: 2 teaspoon fennel seeds (toasted and crushed) 1 teaspoon lemon zest 1 fennel bulb, cored and sliced thin 1 teaspoon olive oil (optional drizzle on top)

1. In a pan over medium heat, add the olive oil, then the chopped green onions; stir until the green onions are lightly brown.

2. Add the drained beans, lemon juice, garlic, cumin and salt. Turn the heat down to low and stir the ingredients together.

3. In the bowl of a food processor, or blender, add the warm white bean mixture from the pot along with olive oil and blend until smooth. Then spoon the blended bean mixture into a serving bowl.

4. For the topping, dry

toast the fennel seeds in a small pan, over medium to low heat, for 2 minutes.

Once the seeds are cool, pour them out of the pan and crush them using a mortar and pestle (or just roll them with a rolling pin). This step will unlock the sweet, warm licoricelike aroma from the fennel seeds.

5. Add the crushed fennel seeds, lemon zest and sliced fennel bulb over the top of the dip. Add a small drizzle of olive oil. Serve with sliced fresh vegetables, crackers or chips.

2 Guinness recipes you can eat instead of sip

BY GRETCHEN McKAY

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE/ TNS PHOTO By GRETCHEN McKAy

Guinness Mac and Cheese

Most of the time, Guinness is enjoyed exactly how Arthur Guinness envisioned it when he started brewing the darkcolored but light-bodied Irish dry stout more than 200 years ago — in a pint glass with its signature creamy head.

But it also can be the surprise ingredient in any number

of dishes, including savory stews and grilling or braising sauces.

Its rich and Review coffee-like Guinness Mac malted flavors and Cheese also compleGuinness Brownies ment sharp cheddar and 6C bittersweet chocolate, ingredients many of us have in the fridge or pantry at any given moment.

These two recipes demonstrate how the world’s bestselling stout can elevate two everyday American dishes — a creamy pot of mac and cheese and a pan of rich and fudgy brownies.

Both are quite easy to pull together and gain a touch of unexpected umami from the beer.

Most of the alcohol will burn off during cooking but neither is completely alcohol-free.

6C ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

Guinness Mac and Cheese Serves 6. Recipe is from marydisomma.com. This flavorful super-easy stovetop mac and cheese is made with Guinness stout, sharp Irish cheddar and a touch of Dijon mustard. It’s creamy and cheesy with an optional crunchy breadcrumb topping. Best part: It takes only about 20 minutes.

FOR TOPPING: 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 garlic cloves, minced ¾ cup breadcrumbs 1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley FOR MAC AND CHEESE: 2¼ teaspoons salt, divided 1 pound elbow macaroni 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 ⁄3 cup Guinness stout 1½ cups whole milk ½ cup half and half A few grinds of black pepper 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 3 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces 3¾ cups grated Irish cheddar cheese 1. Begin by making the topping: In a medium skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of butter.

2. Add minced garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Do not brown the garlic! Add breadcrumbs and cook on low heat until they turn a golden brown. Next, add the Italian parsley.

That’s it — transfer the topping from the skillet into a bowl and set aside.

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3. Bring a pot of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, add 2 teaspoons of salt. Cook the elbow macaroni until it’s al dente.

4. Remove 1 cup of the pasta water and set it aside (you’ll need this later when you’re making the sauce). Drain and rinse the pasta, then set it aside while you prepare the sauce.

5. In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.

Once it’s melted, whisk in flour. Whisk for 1 minute to create a roux for the sauce.

6. Continue to whisk as you slowly add Guinness stout, followed by milk, half and half, remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, black pepper and Dijon mustard.

7. Bring to a simmer and cook, whisking now and then, until the sauce thickens. This will take about 2 minutes.

8. Add cream cheese and 2½ cups of grated cheese. Stir the mixture until the cheeses are incorporated.

9. Add cooked pasta followed by the remaining 1¼ cup grated cheese.

Stir gently until the remaining cheese is melted and the pasta is heated through. Since the mac and cheese does not go in the oven, it is essential that the pasta is reheated in the sauce.

If the sauce seems too thick, drizzle in a little bit of the reserved pasta water.

10. Place the hot mac and cheese in a serving bowl, sprinkle on the topping and serve.

Guinness Brownies Makes 16-20 brownies. Recipe is from sallysbakingaddiction. com. These Guinness brownies are made from reduced Guinness stout. They’re fudgy, rich and topped with espresso- and Guinness-infused frosting.

FOR BROWNIES: 1 (12-ounce) bottle Guinness Draught Stout ¾ cup unsalted butter 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips 1¼ cups granulated sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon espresso powder FOR FROSTING: ½ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 2–3 tablespoons reduced Guinness 1 teaspoon espresso powder ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon salt 1. In a small saucepan, bring the Guinness to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce to medium heat and allow to simmer until reduced down to 2⁄3 cup, about 12–15 minutes. Set aside to cool for at least 10 minutes. You will use ½ cup in the brownies and the rest

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE/ TNS PHOTO By GRETCHEN McKAy

Guinness Brownies

in the frosting.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 F and grease a 9-inch square baking pan or line with aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides to lift the finished brownies out (makes cutting easier). Set aside.

3. Place butter and chopped chocolate in a large microwavesafe bowl. Melt in 30-second increments, whisking after each, until completely smooth.

4. Whisk in the sugar and ½ cup of reduced Guinness until completely combined. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract.

5. Finally, whisk in the flour, salt and espresso powder (if using). The batter will be thick and shiny. Pour/spread evenly into prepared pan.

6. Bake for 32 minutes, then

Cowboy Caviar (aka Texas Caviar)

TODAY IN HISTORY

Serves 10-12. This recipe is adapted from a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen.

2 (15-ounce) cans of black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed 1 (15-ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped 1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped 1 jalapeño chili pepper, stemmed, seeded and finely chopped 1 celery rib, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves ½ cup fresh cilantro ½ cup fresh parsley ½ cup olive oil ¼ cup red wine vinegar ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons of green jalapeño hot sauce (optional for additional spice)

Cowboy Caviar (aka Texas Caviar) oil and vinegar. Add the salt, taste, add more salt if needed. Add jalapeño hot sauce for additional spice.

3. Pour the herb sauce/ dressing over the bean and

PHOTO By LIZ FAUL

By The Associated Press Today is Thursday, June 4, the 155th day of 2026. There are 210 days left in the year.

Today in history: On June 4, 1989, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of prodemocracy demonstrators and dozens of soldiers are estimated to have been killed when Chinese troops crushed a seven-week-long protest by demonstrators occupying Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

Also on this date: In 1919, Congress approved the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which said that the right of Americans to vote “shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” (The amend-

ment was then sent to the states for ratification.)

Also in 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill declared in a speech to the House of Commons: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

In 1942, the World War II naval Battle of Midway began, which resulted in a decisive American victory against Japan and marked a turning point in the war in the Pacific.

In 1990, Dr. Jack Kevorkian carried out his first publicly assisted suicide, helping Janet Adkins, a 54-year-old Alzheimer’s patient from Portland, Oregon, end her life in

pepper mixture. Mix it all together so the dressing covers the beans and vegetables.

4. Chill for at least one hour before serving with your favorite nacho chip.

Black Bean Cakes with Sour Cream Serves 10-12. Recipe is by Liz Faul.

of cooking oil. Then add the onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Add the chopped 1-3 tablespoons cooking oil garlic. Stir the onion mixture.

1 onion, chopped 2. Add the cumin, oregano, 2 garlic cloves, chopped cayenne and salt and stir the 1 teaspoon ground cumin spices into the onion mix.

1 teaspoon dried oregano Turn off the heat and let the ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper onions and spices cool. ½ teaspoon salt 3. Place the breadcrumbs ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (or in a shallow bowl. Set the finely ground nacho chips) bowl of breadcrumbs aside 2 (15-ounce) can of black beans, to coat the black bean cakes. drained 4. In the bowl of a food pro1 egg cessor, add the drained black SERVE WITH: beans, the egg and the cooled Sour cream onion/spice mix. Lightly pulse Tajin spice blend the food processor to combine Sliced lime all the ingredients, but stop Sliced avocado (or guacamole) before the mix is a smooth paste. It is easier to work with 1. In a large pan over me- a thicker mix. If the bean mix dium heat, add 1 tablespoon is too thin, try adding some of

LEGUMES

Continued from page 5C that has been enjoyed in homes and in restaurants for generations.

After eating Winsberg’s creative bean dishes, I was inspired to think more about cooking with beans at home.

I looked through cookbooks and, considering what I had in the pantry, I made cowboy caviar, a white bean dip and black bean cakes.

Cowboy caviar, or Texas caviar, is the perfect side dish for a summer barbeque. This dish does not contain any caviar, it is just a name that was created

by Helen Corbitt to make it more elegant. I have eaten this dish for years but I never thought to look up its origin story. I was delighted to learn that this popular bean salad was created by a fellow dietitian.

Corbitt began her career in the 1930s as a hospitalbased nutritionist in New Jersey and New York. However, she was not satisfied

in that position, and looked to do something more with food and nutrition. She found a job in Texas teaching and developing new recipes and cookbooks.

Corbitt sought to use local fresh ingredients and present them in a tasteful way. She did not care for traditional black-eyed pea dishes, so she created this tangy bright alternative bean salad that has endured the test of time.

I make cowboy caviar by mixing beans with fresh bell peppers and jalapenos.

Then I make a dressing that is essentially similar to a chimichurri sauce with olive oil, red wine vinegar and a lot of herbs to bind the ingredients together. It is best made in advance and chilled before serving.

I found two cans of white beans in my pantry and decided to make a white bean dip. I was guided by a recipe from America’s Test Kitchen that simply blended the beans with olive oil, lemon juice and spices. I had a fennel bulb in the refrigerator and decided to

Oakland County, Michigan.

(Kevorkian died in 2011.)

In 1998, a federal judge sentenced Terry Nichols to life in prison without parole for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, which killed 168 people.

Today’s birthdays: Actor Bruce Dern is 90. Golf Hall of Famer Sandra Haynie is 83. Singer-actor Michelle Phillips is 82. Jazz musician Paquito D’Rivera is 78.

Actor Parker Stevenson is 74. Actor Keith David is 70.

Singer El DeBarge is 65.

Opera singer Cecilia Bartoli is 60. R&B singer Al B. Sure! is 58. Actor Scott Wolf is 58. Comedian Horatio Sanz is 57. Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah is 55.

Actor Noah Wyle is 55. Actor Angelina Jolie is 51.

r y ou da tY o ar T St ove M

1. In a large serving bowl, add the drained and rinsed black-eyed peas, black beans, chopped bell peppers, jalapeño pepper and chopped celery. Stir the beans and vegetables together.

2. In the bowl of a food processor, or blender, add 3 garlic cloves, cilantro, parsley, olive oil and red wine vinegar; blend on a low speed until the herbs are finely chopped and mixed with the

test the brownies with a toothpick. Insert it into the center of the pan. If it comes out coated with wet batter, the brownies need more time. If there are only a few moist crumbs, the brownies are done.

7. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool completely in the pan before frosting or cutting.

8. Make the frosting: In a large bowl using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the butter on high speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes.

Add the confectioners’ sugar, beating on low at first then increasing to high speed.

9. Once creamy and combined, beat in 2 tablespoons of reduced Guinness, the espresso powder, vanilla extract and salt. Taste. Add the remaining reduced Guinness if needed.

If you want the frosting a little thinner, beat in a splash of milk.

10. When cool, lift the brownies out by gripping the parchment overhangs and transfer to a cutting board. Spread frosting over cooled brownies. Use a sharp knife to cut into squares.

11. Cover and store leftover brownies at room temperature for up to 1 week.

the breadcrumbs to help you form the bean patties.

5. Form the bean patties, add each patty into the breadcrumb mix, coat both sides, and then place all the formed patties on a plate while you prepare the pan to fry them.

6. In a large pan over medium-high heat, add 1-2 tablespoons of cooking oil, then carefully add the patties. Cook the bean cakes until golden brown on both sides, or for about 2 minutes per side.

7. OPTIONAL: Serve the black bean cakes with lime and sour cream, or your choice of avocado or guacamole. I sprinkled tajine spice blend over them for an extra bright flavor. add fennel and lemon zest to the top of the dip to add taste and texture. I love fennel because it has a mild refreshing taste. Fennel is also thought to help with digestion. For this reason, fennel is an ideal herb to pair with bean dishes.

Black bean patties can be made small and served as an appetizer or snack.

They also can be made a bit larger and served on a hamburger bun as a tasty alternative to meat. It can be tricky to blend the beans to the right texture to form patties that hold together.

To add extra flavor, try blending nacho chips in a food processor until they are the texture of breadcrumbs. The nacho crumbs serve to bind the bean cakes together and they add a toasted corn taste. It helps to chill the bean mixture in the refrigerator before forming the patties.

Black bean cakes taste great with sour cream, lime and sliced avocado. These bean cakes are packed with fiber and protein, but more importantly, they taste good.

Visit us today and take the first step toward finding your perfect address.

addresslafayettela.com DRE#01901536 This website is a marketing and information program that sends all inquiries to state-licensed real estate professionals.

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● 7C

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FrAnK And erneSt

bIG nAte

zItS

zodIAC GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Change the dialogue to reflect your needs. Ask questions, show interest and charm your way forward. Your input, dedication and creativity will help you outshine anyone who wants to challenge you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Be honest with yourself and others. It's easy to dwell on the negative, but it's far more productive to let go of what isn't working for you and embrace something that is.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Put a plan together and participate in something that addresses issues of concern. A change to how you think and what you are willing to do will commence once you get your head wrapped around what's happening.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Don't feel pressured to make a move or decision prematurely. Concentrate on how to help yourself first and then parlay your findings into helping those less fortunate.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) You'll have decisions to make that conflict with your time, schedule and what you want to do. Don't commit to something to avoid opposition. Offer what's doable, affordable and within your capabilities.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Let your questions and responses be your ticket to a brighter future. Send out resumes, sign up for courses to update your qualifications and connect with people who can help you make your way forward.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Keep the momentum flowing, and you'll do great.

Fixing up your space, vying for a new

position and higher pay or participating in something that intrigues you will all lead to changes in how you do things and who you associate with.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) When opportunity knocks, open the door. A chance encounter will make your heart skip a beat. Focus on home, family, love and romance, and less on outside influences trying to lead you astray.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put the past behind you, and structure your schedule to enhance your chance to use your talents for something lucrative and constructive.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Hold on to what you have, and make sure you are doing what's best for you. Someone will lead you astray if you are gullible. Put more thought into making positive changes to your space.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Don't let confusion set in. Take a step back, ask questions and evaluate what's necessary.

When in doubt, take a pass and don't look back. Focus on how you earn your living.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Pump it up; work those muscles. Implement exercise into your routine or drum up entertaining activities you can do with friends. Participating in group activities will broaden your vision.

The horoscope, an entertainment feature, is not based on scientific fact. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

For better or For WorSe WonderWord

peAnUtS

SALLY Forth

beetLe bAILeY CeLebrItY CIpher Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

TODAy'S CLUE: L EQUALS C

Mother GooSe And GrIMM

SherMAn’S LAGoon FAMILY CIrCUS

dooneSbUrY

8C ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

CurTiS

Hi and LoiS

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Sudoku InstructIons: Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

BaBY BLueS

BLondie

THe wiZard oF id

nea CroSSwordS

La TimeS CroSSword

The Acadiana Advocate ● theadvocate.com ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● 9C

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B.C.

Bridge

BY PHILLIP ALDER U.S. Rep. George Miller, from California, said, “The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later, you’re hungry again.”

The trouble with 5-6 hands is deciding in which order to bid the suits. Look at today’s South hand. Would you open one spade or one heart?

With a relatively weak hand, it is better to open one spade and describe your hand as a 5-5. But this hand has very few losers if partner has a fit in one suit (or, even better, in both suits). So South should plan to bid hearts, spades and spades again to describe his 5-6. Note that his two-spade rebid is a reverse because partner, to show preference for the firstbid suit (hearts), has to go to the threelevel. There are two other points about the two-level reverse. It guarantees that the first-bid suit is longer than the second-bid, and it shows extra strength, instigating a game-force.

So North quietly supports hearts before using the Grand-Slam Force, asking South to bid seven hearts with two of the top three trumps. (Roman Key Card Blackwood would also do the job.) Surely South has the spade king for his threespade bid.

HowshouldSouthplayafterWestleads the diamond king to dummy’s ace?

garfield

Pearls Before swiNe

hagar the horriBle

Just in case the breaks are bad, declarer should play a low trump to his ace.

When West discards, South leads a spade to dummy’s ace, returns a spade to his king and ruffs a spade with dummy’s heart queen. Then he plays a heart to his nine, draws trumps and claims. © 2026 by NEA, Inc., dist. By Andrews McMeel Syndication

wuzzles Each Wuzzle is a word riddle which creates a disguised word, phrase, name, place, saying, etc. For example: NOON GOOD = GOOD AFTERNOON

PiCKles

Previous answers:

mallard fillmore

word game InsTRucTIons: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3.

Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

ToDAY’s WoRD — THunDER: THUN-der: The sound that follows a flash of

Bizarro

marmaduKe

lightning.

Average mark 21 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 29 or more words in THUNDER? YEsTERDAY’s WoRD — MYTHIcAL mach mail malt malty match math mica myth mythic yacht tail

talc hail halt hilt itch itchy calm chai chat chia chit

city claim clam clay achy alit amity lacy laic laity latch

lath limy

loCKhorNs hidato Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer

today’s thought “This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

Matthew 15:8 Where is your heart in relation to the Lord? G.E. Dean

10C ● Thursday, June 4, 2026 ● theadvocate.com ● The Acadiana Advocate

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BUSINESS T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M/news/business

DOW 50,687.07 -620.72 -1.21%

NASDAQ 26,853.98 -239.93 -0.89%

BRIEFS

FROM WIRE REPORTS

U.S. stocks halt their record-breaking rally

NEW YORK — Oil prices rose Wednesday following the latest flare-up in fighting to threaten the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and U.S. stocks retreated from their records.

The S&P 500 fell 0.7% from its all-time high for its first drop in 10 days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 620 points, or 1.2%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.9%.

Weighing on the market was a climb of 1.9% for the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, which brought it back to $97.81. It rose after both the United States and Iran said they launched retaliations for earlier attacks or attempted ones.

Palo Alto Networks helped drag the market lower, and it fell 5.6% even though it reported profit for the latest quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. Investors may have been looking for even more after its stock came into the day with a surge of 61.3% for the year so far, more than quintuple the S&P 500’s already big 11.2% rise.

S&P 500 7,553.68 -56.10 -0.74%

EURO 1.1599 -0.0029 -0.25%

CRUDE OIL 96.02 2.26 2.41%

GOLD 4,436.70 -52.40 -1.17%

6-MO T-BILLS 3.77 0.0 0.0%

30-YR T-BONDS 4.99 0.02 0.46%

Dallas Neiman Marcus to close

The downtown store was first acquired Neiman Marcus founded and headquartered NeiIconic location to which at the end of 2024. The closure man Marcus until the chain was set to close at the end of March will close the chapter on a multi- purchased by upscale competitor in 2025 after weeks of back and shutter in September decade run for the shop that had Saks Global in 2024. For more than forth between city and business

BY BRIAN WOMACK

The Dallas Morning News (TNS) DALLAS — Neiman Marcus will close its downtown Dallas department store, ending months of speculation and delivering another blow to the central business district landscape.

The iconic store is set to shutter at the end of September as the company turns its focus on the NorthPark Center amid a bankruptcy process with Saks Global,

acted as a fashion beacon for the region.

“It is not an easy decision, but it is a final decision,” said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Saks Global. “... The rationale is really we’ve looked at multiple criteria, but it’s mostly the criteria of what are the customer preferences and where is demand, and what we see is that there’s a shift in the retail map in Dallas.”

The downtown Dallas store was a flagship property for Dallas-

a century, the building the epicenter of luxury retail in North Texas and welcomed some of the world’s biggest names in fashion such as Christian Dior, Sophia Loren and Gloria Vanderbilt.

With the change, Neiman Marcus plans to infuse elements of the downtown store and its history into the NorthPark site, according to the company. This includes reimagining the Neiman Marcus Cafe into The Zodiac Room and celebrating other pieces of its history.

officials and the company amid a lease dispute. Yet an 11th-hour announcement staved off the shuttering with the site set to be kept open through the holiday shopping at the end of last year — and then the lifeline was extended into 2026.

The NorthPark business does more than 10 times the sales of the downtown business, van Raemdonck said.

And sales, despite the attention the store attracted last year, declined in 2025.

Airport could soon run on 100% solar power A large solar array is being planned to fully power Northeast Philadelphia Airport.

A bill that still needs approval by City Council would authorize a contractor to build a 1.5-megawatt solar farm. In return, the city would purchase the energy for the airport for 25 years at a set rate.

It would become the largest municipal on-site solar project within city limits. There are larger privately run solar arrays.

The plan is a partnership between the city’s Department of Aviation, which manages both PNE and Philadelphia International Airport, and the Philadelphia Energy Authority.

“The Department of Aviation is committed to purchasing or generating 100% renewable energy through collaboration with the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability,” Jessica Noon, sustainability manager for the airports, said at a hearing Tuesday by the council’s Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities.

Noon said Reactivate LLC, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Invenergy, will own the solar array. It will be responsible for construction, daily operations, and long-term maintenance.

EU launches tech sovereignty initiative BRUSSELS — European Union leaders, worried about the continent relying too heavily on American companies for AI and cloud computing services and Asia for microchips, are pushing back.

The 27-nation bloc unveiled a “tech sovereignty” package on Wednesday with measures to promote homegrown European alternatives to Big Tech services and hardware.

The efforts by Brussels have gained urgency as leaders worry about dependence on technologies from foreign providers, which they say could be “weaponized” against Europeans. Those fears crystallized after the International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor was sanctioned by the Trump administration, which led to Microsoft canceling his email account, sparking fears of a “kill switch” hidden in U.S. tech services.

“Europe wants to be in the position to make its own choices, avoiding risky dependencies on single dominant suppliers, one company or one third country,” European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, who oversees tech sovereignty, told reporters in Brussels.

“Because we live in a world where geopolitics and technology go hand in hand. Those who champion technological innovation will shape the future, and we must ensure that Europe plays a leading role in this.”

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer arrives May 6 for the G7 trade meeting in Paris.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By AURELIEN MORISSARD

Trump administration seeks new path forward with tariffs First attempt hit legal roadblocks

BY PAUL WISEMAN and ELAINE KURTENBACH AP business writers

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is in a hurry to rebuild the tariff wall the Supreme Court tore down less than four months ago.

The administration this week has proposed slapping double-digit tariffs on products from dozens of major U.S. trading partners after an investigation into imports of goods allegedly made with forced labor. And more tariffs are likely coming.

Under the proposal released in Washington late Tuesday, 16 economies — including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, Taiwan and the United Kingdom — would face 10% levies for allegedly failing to enforce bans on forced labor. Another 44 trading partners — including China, Japan, India, South Korea and Switzerland — would be hit with 12.5% import taxes.

The tariffs are part of Trump’s push to replace revenue lost when the U.S. Supreme

Court struck down sweeping global tariffs he’d imposed last year. This latest barrage is likely to unsettle key trading partners that have been hit with waves of tariffs since Trump returned to the White House early last year.

“The failure of our most important trading partners to address the importation of goods made with forced labor is unacceptable,” U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement. “This creates a dynamic where American workers are forced to compete globally on an unlevel playing field.”

Greer’s office said failure to prevent such imports is “unreasonable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce.”

Trump’s tariffs are paid by U.S. importers who usually try to pass along those higher costs to customers.

The administration, mindful that Americans are growing increasingly unsettled by high prices with midterm elections just months away, said that it would limit the impact by exempting from the latest proposed tariffs a long list of products, including aircraft parts, food products (from coffee to beef) and rare earth minerals crucial in the production

of smartphones and cars. Also spared would be products from Canada and Mexico covered by a North American trade pact.

The new tariffs would not take effect immediately. They are subject to public comment and review. Public hearings on the proposed duties are due to begin on July 7.

The plan drew immediate pushback. A Chinese government spokesperson denied the forced labor allegation and called for resolving economic issues through dialogue, saying a trade war doesn’t serve anyone’s interests.

“There is no such thing as forced labor in China, and we oppose using it as an excuse to engage in political manipulation,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing.

The U.S. has long said imports of goods that include material from China’s farwestern Xinjiang are at risk of using forced labor. Beijing denies allegations of forced labor in the Muslim majority region.

But critics saw the proposed tariffs as a pretext to reinstate tariffs on dozens of countries across the globe that hadn’t passed legal muster.

Humanoid robots are learning to do your job — in the kitchen

BY NILESH CHRISTOPHER Los Angeles Times (TNS)

Fernando Flores can spend eight hours a day pouring the same cup of coffee.

He is not a barista. He’s a robot puppeteer, trying to train humanoids.

He manipulates mechanical controllers to make nearby robot arms pick up a pot of coffee, pour it into a mug and put the pot back in the coffee maker. Flores checks for spills, then empties the mug back into the pot by hand and does it again — hundreds of times.

“The repetitiveness, it can cause some discomfort,” said Flores, who has the title of senior robotic pilot

at San Francisco startup Encord.

“It becomes second nature after a while.”

This Sisyphus of Silicon Valley is on the front lines of a rapidly expanding industry of robot trainers, preparing to teach and operate the army of humanoid robots scheduled to march out of nearby factories in the coming year. Encord practices, records and sells data about movement to the companies racing to bring humanoids to homes, offices and factories.

If tech companies’ optimistic plans are to be believed, a swarm of American-built robots is about to hit the market.

Tesla’s Fremont factory stopped car production this year to make

way for production lines for its Optimus robots, with unbelievable plans to ramp up capacity to 1 million units a year. Palo Alto-based 1X Technologies is already manufacturing its 66-pound, 5-foot-6 humanoid named Neo at its factory in Hayward. The company received 10,000 preorders, and its first shipment is expected later this year.

Figure AI’s humanoid factory in San Jose has increased its manufacturing capacity to produce one Figure 03 robot an hour, with the goal of producing 12,000 a year.

Goldman Sachs projects the global market for humanoids could reach $38 billion by 2035.

The AI of these humanoid robots needs an immense amount of data

on human movement. How humans write, speak, code and compose was easily scraped off the internet, but the bots need more information to master how to stand, step, lift, squeeze, pour and perform other physical movements. That is where companies like Encord come in.

The $10 billion invested in robotics in 2026, according to CB Insights, has spawned an industry focused on training robots. Initially, that meant humans strapping iPhones to their foreheads, recording actions like cooking, cleaning and performing household chores.

That, however, doesn’t capture the exact torque, force and grip required for a robot hand to work flawlessly.